Watching today’s stage of the Tour of Romandie, won by an aggressive Simon Spilak, something flashed across my mind: the Lampre kit is very old.
Look at the photo above from Maurizio Fondriest’s win in the 1993 Milan – San Remo, observe the details. See how old the Fiat Tempra looks, the motorbikes seem ancient too, it’s almost retro. But one thing has barely changed, the Lampre kit. Spilak may have more blue on the shorts and the secondary sponsors come and go but that’s about it.
The blue and pink clothing has lasted a long time. It’s bold and whilst taste is a personal matter, it’s one of the most recognisable jerseys in the bunch.
In case you have ever wondered, Lampre is an Italian manufacturer of steel, specialising in “pre-coated” steel, like PVC-coated and pre-painted steel. This sort of stuff is used in a lot of white goods, many a washing machine or fridge is encased inside powder-coated steel from Lampre.