Visma-Lease a Bike says dark cycling jerseys are not automatically a heat problem, even during a Tour de France heatwave.
The Dutch team defended its black special-edition kit after commentators questioned whether the color could hurt riders in extreme temperatures. Its answer focused less on the shade of the jersey and more on the fabric beneath it.
Head of performance Mathieu Heijboer said in a team note that the assumption makes sense. Darker clothing can absorb more heat than lighter clothing, and previous studies have shown that effect.
However, Heijboer argued that elite sportswear has moved the discussion beyond color alone. He said fabric choice now matters more for heat retention than whether a jersey looks dark or light.
Fabric leads dark cycling jerseys debate
The question has fresh urgency at this Tour de France. Visma-Lease a Bike is racing in a very dark “architect” swap-out kit, selected by fans over a creamy yellow alternative.
The black design has proved popular, but it arrived as southern France faced forecasts approaching 40°C. Wildfires have also affected how the race is being managed.
That combination made the kit an obvious talking point. Thermoregulation can limit performance at every level of cycling, and Tour de France riders have little margin for added heat stress.
Heijboer said Visma ranks UV resistance and garment weight near the top of its cooling priorities. Moisture management also matters, especially when riders produce sweat for hours in direct sun.
He said the team wants to slow how quickly the body heats in sunlight. The jersey must also move moisture fast enough to let it evaporate rather than sit in the fabric.
According to Heijboer, the fibers in Visma’s jerseys receive UV-resistant treatment. That protection helps reflect some light instead of absorbing it.
Visma-Lease a Bike says it tested prototype Nimbl kits in climate chambers to compare color and fabric effects. The team said those tests found only “insignificant differences” in body temperature from jersey color.
Heijboer summarized the finding by saying fabric plays a much greater role than color.
Other teams also focus on technical materials
Visma is not alone in using a special Tour de France uniform. Pinarello-Q36.5 also introduced a special-edition kit for the race.
Its pale blue “fresh summer look” offered an interesting comparison. The team did not present the lighter color as the main cooling feature compared with its usual navy kit.
Instead, the release highlighted ultralight mesh panels and thermoregulating yarns in its Q36.5 Dottore Pro kit. That emphasis closely matches Visma’s fabric-first argument.
Still, color has not disappeared from the discussion. Darker surfaces absorb more sunlight, while lighter surfaces reflect more. That basic principle continues to influence cycling clothing choices.
An informal temperature test last summer by tech editor Josh Ross found a dark jersey measured 20°F warmer than a paler jersey after one hour in the sun.
The same test also found black helmets and water bottles became significantly warmer after sitting in Portland sun. However, the jersey comparison was not like-for-like.
The white jersey was a Gobik Infinity short sleeve, while the black jersey was a Castelli Aero Race 8. Different fabrics, cuts, and construction made the result useful but not definitive.
That distinction supports Visma’s central point. A dark, lightweight jersey with strong UV resistance may feel cooler than a pale, heavier garment.
Many high-end summer jerseys now use ultralight and UV-resistant materials. Examples include the Velocio Luxe Ultralight SE, Castelli’s UPF short sleeve, and Rapha’s Pro Team range.
Color still matters when two jerseys use the same materials. Visma’s unused creamy switch-out jersey would likely run cooler than the black version for that reason.
But the team believes its current fabric package offsets enough heat risk to race in black. At this Tour de France, Visma is betting that textile technology matters more than appearances.