Melbourne-based MAAP has grown a status for its daring designs within the biking attire scene, so it’s with attribute intrepidness that the model breaks onto the WorldTour, with a pair of gray ‘shadow’ bib shorts.
MAAP has immediately unveiled its equipment to be worn by Jayco AlUla and Liv AlUla Jayco in 2025, the model’s first top-level partnership, which can see the Australian squads costume in purple and gray.
It’s a color alternative that comes from the MAAP’s historical past, analysis of peloton aerial photographs, and a want to face out. It is also one the model is aware of will spark debate.
“We simply needed to have one thing distinctive within the peloton,” mentioned Misha Glisovic, MAAP’s artistic director.
The color of the jersey, Glisovic defined, was impressed by “evening desert skies, AlUla sunsets, and the aurora australis”, a light-weight phenomenon seen from the Australian outback. The shorts, in distinction, got here as a chance to rub towards the grain. “We name it shadow,” Glisovic mentioned of the tone. “It’s a color that we’ve used earlier than inside our important line, and it appears to go nicely with each shiny and impartial colors.
“It’s one thing that feels uniquely MAAP, and it brings that life-style style affect into the game, attempting to current one thing totally different inside the peloton.”
(Picture credit score: MAAP)
In a blur of black and navy shorts, Jayco AlUla’s backside half will you should definitely stand out. The ‘shadow’ color will try and fill a gap left within the bunch by AG2R La Mondiale, who flaunted controversial brown bib shorts for greater than a decade, earlier than scrapping them initially of this 12 months.
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“AG2R bibs had been iconic, proper?” mentioned Oliver Cousins, MAAP co-CEO and co-founder. “We usually had been huge followers of that, and I personally assume it was a disgrace that they walked away from it.
“I feel shadow shouldn’t be as contentious because the AG2R color, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly one thing that we needed to supply, and it was totally different to what’s on the market when it comes to navy blues and blacks. I feel will probably be nicely acquired.”
Based in 2014, MAAP has beforehand provided equipment to British Continental groups Trinity Racing and Lifeplus-Wahoo. The model’s entry into the WorldTour, Cousins mentioned, has lengthy been considered one of its “core objectives”, with an Australian staff the pure alternative.
“That is what we’ve all the time needed to do,” the co-founder mentioned. “I don’t assume that will probably be a giant shock that we’re leaping in [to the WorldTour]. In my eyes, it’s in all probability virtually like, why hasn’t MAAP joined the WorldTour but? If you’re dedicated to the game and growing performance-oriented equipment, to me, you’ve received to play in that house.”
The jersey color has been authorised by the UCI – regardless of preliminary issues the purple could conflict with the ladies’s WorldTour chief’s jersey – and MAAP is assured that the shadow shorts, considered one of its best-selling colors, can be a success with followers.
“We need to promote it as nicely,” mentioned Jarrad Smith, MAAP’s different co-founder and co-CEO, of the brand new equipment. “It is one other huge aim for us, or for me personally, to have the ability to take a look at folks carrying the Jayco equipment, as a result of we’re so pleased with it. I need to put on it, and I am hoping it resonates with folks.”
You’ll find all of the newly up to date WorldTour kits for 2025 on the Biking Weekly web site now.
