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Full Kit Ranker quarter finals: your chance to vote for the greatest cycling jersey of all time

Some absolute classics were knocked out of our initial 16-jersey shortlist... which four will make it through to the semi-finals? Be sure to cast your votes so your fave has the best possible chance of winning!

*POLLS FOR THE QUARTER FINALS ARE NOW CLOSED... SEE YOU IN THE SEMI-FINALS!*

In our quest to crown the greatest cycling jersey there ever was, we've already seen some absolute classics knocked out in our first round of 16... and now it's time for the Full Kit Ranker to hot things up a little in the quarter finals!

Full Kit Ranker round 1
How to choose the best cycling jersey for you

If you were forced to make some excruciating decisions in round 1, just wait to see how cruel the draw has been for the quarter finals. It may be the case that your two favourites are going head-to-head, but that's the brutal way this cookie (and the Full Kit Ranker) crumbles unfortunately.  

Full-Kit-Ranker---Quarter-Finals-2

As you did in round 1, reacquaint yourselves with the classic jerseys in each of the four match-ups before making your decision, then vote in each poll. Voting closes at midnight on Tuesday, after which we'll gather the final scores then the semi-finals will commence on Wednesday. 

Right then, let's get voting and see you in the semi-finals!

La Vie Claire (1985) vs Molteni (1972)

roadcc Full Kit Ranker - QF 1.jpg

The Piet Mondrian-influenced classic worn by Bernard Hinault during his 1985 Tour-winning year was a clear victor over Team Sky's 2012 top from Adidas, picking up 77% of the vote. In perhaps our toughest contest of the four, the La Vie Claire jersey from 1985 is up against the jersey arguably most associated with Eddy Merckx, the Molteni strip in which he dominated the Tour de France and Giro D'Italia in the early 70's. Have a think, choose carefully... 

 

Poll not showing above? You're probably on the AMP page. Click here!

You can buy a La Vie Claire replica jersey here, and a Molteni replica here

Faemino–Faema (1970) vs Mapei-GB (1996)

roadcc Full Kit Ranker - QF 2.jpg

Faema's classic number - another Merckx dominated in - beat Euskaltel-Euskadi's 2004 bright orange jersey by 65% to 35% in our first round, while the contest between Mapei-GB and Brooklyn was far closer with Mapei creeping over the line with 54%. Are you all about super vintage wool classics, or do you prefer slightly more recent retro and have clearer memories of Mapei's domination in the 90's? It's decision time... 

 

Buy a replica Faema jersey here, and a Mapei replica here

Bianchi-Pirelli (1958) vs US Postal (2004) 

roadcc Full Kit Ranker - QF 3.jpg

Our oldest and newest jersey match-up between Bianchi and EF Pro Cycling saw the vintage prevail with 58% of the vote, while all the bad associated with US Postal's strip didn't prevent it from just edging Jelly Belly Pool Gel with 53% of the vote to 47% for Jelly Belly. Fausto Coppi and vintage Bianchi, or Lance at the height of his (chemically enhanced) powers? Time to make your mind up... 

 

You can buy a Bianchi-Pirelli replica here, and there are various genuine US Postal jerseys still available on eBay

Peugeot–Shell-Michelin (1984) vs Z-Tommaso (1990)

roadcc Full Kit Ranker - QF 4 - 2

Peugeot triumphed over Canyon-SRAM's Rapha-made jersey convincingly in round 1 with 67% of the vote, while Z-Tommaso edged Renault-Elf with 57% to 43%. Another decision that may be excruciating for classic jersey fans, the Peugeot-Shell-Michelin kit worn by Robert Millar, Stephen Roche and Sean Yates versus Greg LeMond's striking Z-Tommaso jersey is a match-up we predict will be a super close call.

 

You can buy a Peugot-BP Michelin (70's styley) replica here, and a Z-Tommaso replica here. You can still find some original Peugeot-Shell-Michelin jerseys on eBay.  
 

As with the first round, make sure you cast votes for all four match-ups and discuss with your fellow Full Kit Rankers. Feel free to share your favourite jerseys that missed our initial shortlist in the comments too... we might even have enough for another tournament!

P.s. cheers to the Full-Kit W*nkers page for inspiring the name of this epic contest - part of Twitter folklore.

Jack has been writing about cycling and multisport for over a decade, arriving at road.cc via 220 Triathlon Magazine in 2017. He worked across all areas of the website including tech, news and video, and also contributed to eBikeTips before being named Editor of road.cc in 2021 (much to his surprise). Jack has been hooked on cycling since his student days, and currently has a Trek 1.2 for winter riding, a beloved Bickerton folding bike for getting around town and an extra beloved custom Ridley Helium SLX for fantasising about going fast in his stable. Jack has never won a bike race, but does have a master's degree in print journalism and two Guinness World Records for pogo sticking (it's a long story). 

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12 comments

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rct | 4 years ago
1 like

You do realise the Peugeot Shell jersey in the image is actually the Peugeot BP version?

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Jack Sexty replied to rct | 4 years ago
0 likes

Apologies for the oversight, we've changed it

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Chris Hayes | 4 years ago
1 like

The Look 695 in Mondrian colours is one of the most beautiful man-made objects I've ever seen, but the La Vie Claire with its grey panels is dull, dull, dull.... It perplexes me how this beats the Molteni jersey.

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zero_trooper replied to Chris Hayes | 4 years ago
0 likes

Some real big hitters in the quarters and yes, the Molteni just oozed heritage and class!

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rjfrussell | 4 years ago
0 likes

so the semis are Mondrian v Faema and Bianchi v Peugeot, and Mondrian wins the final.  it's a no brainer, no?

 

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CygnusX1 replied to rjfrussell | 4 years ago
0 likes

LVC Mondrian is the best jersey ever 

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captain_slog | 4 years ago
2 likes

Is this set up right? It looks like I could vote multiple times for each one.

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Chris Hayes | 4 years ago
2 likes

Wow...in the minority on all those.  What's wrong with you guys?

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Izaak30 replied to Chris Hayes | 4 years ago
0 likes

Means everyone else is wrong!

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Moist von Lipwig replied to Chris Hayes | 4 years ago
0 likes

As am I!

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42coppi8 replied to Moist von Lipwig | 4 years ago
1 like

Are we voting for the most impressive jersey or the star(s) that wore them ?

Hinault vs Merckx or the colourful jersey vs plain orange ?

 

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captain_slog replied to 42coppi8 | 4 years ago
0 likes
42coppi8 wrote:

Are we voting for the most impressive jersey or the star(s) that wore them ?

Hinault vs Merckx or the colourful jersey vs plain orange ?

I'm trying to vote on purely aesthetic grounds but it's hard not to be influenced by the history. At a design level I tend to prefer bold and simple (Bianchi, Molteni, Faema) over multicoloured jumble (Mapei).

The latter style dominates the modern peloton mainly thanks to the sheer number of sponsors all needing brand exposure on a single jersey. Exceptions are Sky (although I favoured the Rapha iteration over the Adidas original) and EF - sorry to see that one crash out in round one.

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