Mapei return to cycling team sponsorship with UK club

A jersey with a big history heads down to the little leagues.

- Vern Pitt

The iconic multi-coloured Mapei cubetti jersey has adorned many of the sport’s greatest riders as they won Monuments, Classics and Grand Tours but it’s not been seen in action since the professional team folded at the end of 2002.

Now the design will be seen in the peloton once more as it has been revived for small UK club Halesowen A & CC Academy, a junior and under-23 team of 10 riders based out of the Halesowen velodrome near Birmingham, after it struck a sponsorship deal with the Italian grout and adhesive manufacturer.

Academy manager William Fotheringham said: “We actually got contacted by Mapei because their UK head office is close to the track and they have a policy of supporting local sports clubs.”