Once again Cofidis has come up with a different design for the two big summer tours, the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España. The new design that was circulated on the social networks before the race has been transferred to the roads of a Tour that is already rolling through France.
On the first stage, Ion Izagirre was part of the good breakaway, leading the first climbs in the mountains for the grand prix de la montagne. There, we saw the star rider from Guipuzcoa, with the new skin that Mobel has designed for Cofidis.
"The team's request was to make a special edition where the white was more important, like last year. We wanted to make him fresh for both the Tour and the Vuelta". Mobel comments: "It will also be used in the Tour Femmes".
Elegant geometry and distinctive
The jersey is simple, with clear and clean lines, with an accent on white, much more present, giving a design "somewhat eighties and nineties" in which Cofidis has marked the lines of work and "Mobel has put order and balance in the elements, giving it that characteristic touch of the brand".
The result?
A different piece to the rest of the peloton's jerseys, somewhat more baroque, giving importance to the sponsor, let's not forget, patron of the oldest team in the peloton. In this sense, the logo on the back stands outhighly visible from helicopter shots.
The design has been carried over to the different pieces that the riders will wear in and out of the race, such as on the podium, including the sprinter's and time trial suits.
Excitement in the house
Just like during the Giro d'Italia, during the glory days with Benjamin Thomas' victory in the first stages, a certain emotion runs through Mobel's head office with the images coming from the Tour.
"To see the clothes that we have made with so much care there, winning points on the mountain, in front from the first day, is a source of pride," says Adrián Molino, owner of Mobel Sport, who emphasises the stage and what it implies: "It is a very, very, very important leap, both in terms of exposure and brand awareness. People see and appreciate this clothing that we already knew was of quality and that is improving every year".
These days, the Tour of Italy has crossed the Rubicon, the "Romagnolo" river where Julius Caesar set the limit to his empire. Mobel has also crossed "its" Rubicon by being in the best peloton in the world: "The brand has always been perceived as a quality brand, but on a more national level. Being in a World Tour makes us more recognised, customers see you in a different way, that value begins to be appreciated," Adrián insists. There is a human effort above all else, behind what we see there are people, both in design and in manufacturing and sales. It means giving the maximum in our environment and in this case also dressing the women's and Paralympic teams".
A goal for the Tour?
"To win a stage. We want to repeat the emotions of the Giro".
Ehe statistics that explain the Tour
For the most important race of the year, the numbers of material, resources, people and efforts multiply. If the other day we explained in this post the numbers of the garments that Mobel has for the Cofidis Tour, now let's go with the "big numbers" of the team.
This Tour de France 2024 involves almost 3500 kilometres in 21 days of competition, three long weeks, including a couple of rest days. To cover the whole of France, the team is mobilising 25 staff members and 12 vehicles.
The Cofidis eight will consume around 1600 bars and gels and around 3000 half-litre jerry cans, with an estimated 50 litres of water and 40 pieces of fruit, mostly bananas, per day. But it is not only the cyclists, of whom there are eight to start with, who will be consuming, the staff will need 200 loaves of bread to get through the Tour.
Material?
Apart from the textile aspect, which we described the other day, the display of bicycles is remarkable. There are 40 road bikes, eight reserve frames and 80 sets of wheels, of which 30 are brand new. To fit them, 50 tyres and more than 200 inner tubes are being carried.
Ahead of the peloton, two brand vehicles in the advertising caravan, 12 people and millions of people waiting at the side of the road.
"We are a team, something they were looking for, development together, as Cédric Vasseur, their manager, wanted. Our communication is excellent and reaffirms the need to be there every day," concludes Adrián.
Vive Le Tour.
