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The maillot rojo. An iconic sight within the Spanish Grand Tour that signifies the leader of the Vuelta a España, with a colourful history itself.
Not always a lipstick-shade of red, the jersey has been through many iterations in its time. White, yellow, even gold.
Below are some of the best red jersey looks, but beware. The definition of red may change.
Lars Ronbog via Getty Images
This is an interesting look.
Here Denis Menchov wears the gold maillot oro jersey that lasted until 2010.
His orange Rabobank kit makes the leader’s jersey blend in, but then you look closer and the shorts are orange and blue and it looks a bit of a mess at first, but the colours are similar enough to pull the look off. Just about.
Justin Setterfield via Getty Images
Aren’t you lucky? Two for one in the shape of two very impressive riders.
Lisa Brennauer celebrates winning the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta in 2020 as Primož Roglič wins the overall and points classification at the men’s Vuelta a España.
Tim de Waele via Getty Images
Now this is what I was trying to get at with the Menchov paragraph. I adore some colour coordinations and BMC has it here in buckets, their red and black kit design seamlessly integrated with the maillot rojo.
However, I would love at least some level of differentiation – Dennis actually looks more like a BMC rider than any of his teammates, instead of the leader of the Vuelta a España.
This would be the final Grand Tour for Team BMC, which is still a shame.
Stuart Franklin via Getty Images
If it’s not colour-coordinated, it might as well be a lesson in maximalism.
Annemiek van Vleuten stands proud in the red jersey after winning the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta in 2021. Which she’s set to do this year as well.
The purple semi-circle is always a feature with its yellow/green outline, and the same colours are featured on the sleeves. Then you throw the blue Movistar logo onto the front and it starts getting a bit overwhelming.
But it’s Van Vleuten, so it goes on this list.
Tim de Waele via Getty Images
Esteban Chaves wearing the leader’s jersey in a Grand Tour? Perfection, I have no notes. Do not talk to me about the 2016 Giro d’Italia.
Tim de Waele via Getty Images
The one good aspect of Team Sky’s domination years meant they had plenty of chances to perfect designs when leading Grand Tours.
There’s red everywhere to signify Chris Froome is winning in the Spanish Grand Tour on the final day from Arroyomolinos to Madrid. From the Kask Valegro helmet, to the bibs, Pinarello Dogma F10 and even his shoes.
Handy if he ever needs to break out into a run.
Tim de Waele via Getty Images
A seemless integration of the red jersey by a red-wearing team while still realising that you’re watching the leader of the Vuelta a España. Joaquim Rodríguez’s red and white wardrobe with Team Katusha looked perfect in 2012.
From the helmet, bibshorts, even the socks. Rodríguez’s would hold the maillot rojo for the majority of the race, but was usurped by Alberto Contador towards the end.
Tim de Waele via Getty Images
His beef with beef aside, there’s no denying that Alberto Contador looked incredibly stylish in a leader’s jersey.
Here he is wearing the gold design while riding for Astana in 2008.
I do like the contrasting light blue and yellow. Carlton Kirby could probably make a good pun about the sky on a summer’s day.
Tim de Waele via Getty Images
The 2015 Vuelta a España was fun. Esteban Chaves and Tom Dumoulin kept swapping the red jersey between them.
But in the end, neither wore it on the final day into Madrid. That honour went to Astana’s Fabio Aru.
Here’s Dumoulin on Stage 18, surrounded by his Giant-Alpecin teammates and swapping out the blue in his bibs for double red to match his helmet. He’d wear the maillot rojo for one more day.
I was so close to putting Dumoulin first.
Tim de Waele via Getty Images
It’s frankly a crime we haven’t seen this more often.
Tim de Waele via Getty Images
Not only does this work on its own, the red leader’s jersey pairing with the red gradient bib shorts, but it somehow seems to work even more when you look at Ángel Madrazo in the blue polka dot and purple kit behind.
By a stroke of luck, i.e unplanned, the Bora Ultra wheels match perfectly too. He stands out enough from his red Cofidis teammates, who wear a white jersey.
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