Leading up to the Grand Tours this year, Russian backed ProTour team Katusha went a bit outside of the box for a professional cycling team by announcing a broad range of cycling apparel. While most teams end up selling replica kits through their own clothing sponsors, Katusha as a pro team didn’t have a big name sponsor themselves, so they decided to develop their own clothing line. And once they had the team kit sorted out they decided why not turn the new kit into a business and sell it to cyclists, whether those looking to ride in the bright red of the Pro Team Replica gear or something more subtle. Take a closer look below, plus some today only deals to celebrate the team’s success yesterday in the Tour de France…
Katusha Sports started with a solid goal, develop a pro-level kit for their own team, and that’s what you get too. Even though it is geared for consumer cyclists, the line-up doesn’t really have a bunch of different levels or even options with regards to cut and technical details. Pretty much every item that Katusha sells is the same pro team level that they race in. The differences then come mostly in a range of different graphic designs depending on how striking or low-key you want to look on the bike.
The most subtle is the Essential collection with solid and dark colors. Step it up to Breakaway and you get a look inspired by the red and logotype design inspired by the Team Katusha kit, without all of those pesky sponsor logos. Then there is the Beyond line-up, which is the most striking, incorporating high contrast patterns and unique designs. And of course there is always the actual Pro Team replica if you just have to emulate your cycling heroes.
From a tech standpoint both shorts and jerseys rely heavily on a 37.5 stretch fabric that was designed to wick fast and cool the rider to keep their core at an optimal temperature in a wide range of warm and hot weather conditions. The jerseys also get a unique raglan style cut that drops the seams across the shoulders for a more comfortable ergonomic fit.
The clothing gets a modern style and contemporary race cuts with extended short sleeves and flat cut arm and leg cuffs. Pretty much everything from socks and baselayers through regular riding gear, then warmers and jackets are on offer. It is essentially everything that you need to outfit a professional cycling year round.
Jerseys sell for between 140-160€. Pricing goes for around 210€ for the bib shorts, or 190€ for a lighter weight pair. Katusha also offers some different bundles that may save you some money if you are buying full kits, either with or without adding the smaller accessories.
The idea from the beginning was always to create clothing for riders, actually designed by pro riders. The team riders have a big input into the kit produced, and without a lot of outside direction that has meant that the guys who spend day-in and day-out training and racing in all kinds of weather have really shaped this and the coming generations of cycling clothing and accessories that Katusha makes.
The Katusha Sports clothing offshoot of the team is based in Switzerland, and the clothing is made in Italy, Romania & Portugal. While the new brand was founded out of the team’s management, it has taken the idea fairly seriously and set the apparel company up independently with a well-experienced industry exec and product management team.
For the time being the range is targeted at European cyclists and is available online with Euro pricing. But this is just the first year of the brand, and they see a lot of potential for growth.
As for the today-only deal, Katush is offering a 20% discount today on all products (until 6PM in Europe) with the promo code WINNER at checkout in celebration of Ilnur Zakarin’s stage victory yesterday at the Tour de France. Have a look quick!
