17 May 2010

National Champion Jerseys

Colors of the Jerseys

Yesterday Phil Liggett was announcing the coverage of the Tour of California and happened to mention that there are 11 current National Champions riding in the Tour of California this week. I thought it a good impetus to review the colors of professional bike jerseys.
*These riders won their championships at the end of the 2009 cycling season, and will be wearing the champion jersey in 2010. 

National Jerseys in Cycling at the 2010 Tour of California:

 
Road American National Champion - George Hincapie (Team BMC)


Road Belgium National Champion - Tom Boonen (Quick Step)
2009 Road Luxembourg National Champion - Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank)
2009 Road Denmark National Champion - Matti Breschel (Saxo Bank)
2009 TT American National Champion -David Zabriskie (Garmin-Transistions)
2009 TT Australian National Champion - Micahel Rogers (Team Columbia-Highroad)
2009 TT Denmark National Champion - Lars Ytting Bak (Team Columbia-Highroad)
2009 TT Nederland National Champion - Stef Clement (Rabobank)
2009 TT New Zealand National Champion - Jeremy Vennell (Bissell)
2009 TT Slovenia National Champion - Janez Brajkovic (Team RadioShack)
2009 TT Switzerland National Champion - Fabian Cancellar (dropped out after Stage 1 ToC)


Former World Champions who are at the 2010 Tour of California this week:

 
Lance Armstrong (USA), Team RadioShack
Lars Boom (NED), Rabobank
Tom Boonen (BEL),Quick Step
Janez Brajkovic (SLO), Team RadioShack
Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Team Saxo Bank
Mark Cavendish (GBR), Team HTC-Columbia
Tom Leezer (NED), Rabobank
Yaroslav Popovych (UKR), Team RadioShack
Michael Rogers (AUS), Team Columbia-Highroad


Once a rider becomes a former champion the colors of his country are worn printed into the fabric on the collar and arms of his jersey. Also the National or World Champion jerseys are only worn while riding the discipline in which they were earned. For instance, George Hincapie will wear his American National Champion jersey while racing road, but not while racing a time trial. He will instead wear his team kit. Fabian Cancellara will only wear his current Time Trial World Champion jersey during any time trial, but not during other road stages of a tour.

Some of our Photos we haven taken as a Fan:


Fabian Cancellara at the ITT in Los Angeles 2010 ATOC
 

Andy Schelck in the Luxemberg National Jersey in Westlake Village, CA at the ATOC in 2010

Tom Boonen in his Belgium National Jersey in Palmdale, CA at the ATOC 2010

George Hincapie in the American National Jersey in Westlake Village, CA at the ATOC in 2010
Paolo Bettini in the Rainbow Jersey of the World Champion (with Tom Boonen) at the Tour of California in 2009.

Kurt Asle Arvesen in the Norwegian National Jersey in 2008.

Alejandro Valverde wearing the Spanish colors (as a former champion) in 2008.
Robbie McEwen wearing the jersey of the former Australian National Champion in 2008.
George Hincapie (2010 National Champ) wearing the former American National Road Champion flags/colors in 2008.
In the German National Jersey - Fabian Wegmann on the Col d'Aspin in the Tour de France in 2008.













Thomas Voeckler racing the Dauphine Libere in 2007 on the Col de'Telegraphe in the Alpes, wearing the French colors.
Post post update: For an updated list of National Champion Jerseys worn in 2011, read: National Champion Jerseys for 2011