Le Col Sport Jersey II

Tell us what the product is for

Le Col says: "The Le Col Sport Jersey II is an all-around performer, bringing comfort and performance as standard, while delivering a durable garment that will be your go-to training jersey year-round.

"Designed with a slightly more relaxed silhouette from a mechanical knit stretch polyester knit, the Sport Jersey II is more flattering than the more compressive race fit on a designated race jersey, suited to long days in the saddle where a coffee stop and social interaction mean looking good is every bit as important as riding fast. When the sprint to coffee shop is on, rest assured this lightweight, highly breathable jersey will be more than a match for your effort.

"Constructed with bluesign fabrics, this is a jersey that's responsibly sourced and designed to last the distance.

"Updated from the previous Sport jersey, the Sport II Jersey moves to a pre-dyed fabric which results in a luxury feel, while the sleeve length is slightly longer in line with current cycle trends, the result is a jersey that understands that not every day is race day, but every ride deserves the best equipment."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Le Col lists:

Product material

94% Polyester

6% Elastane

Le Col says: "Updated from the previous Sport jersey, the Sport II Jersey moves to a pre-dyed fabric which results in a luxury feel, while the sleeve length is slightly longer in line with current cycle trends, the result is a jersey that understands that not every day is race day, but every ride deserves the best equipment."

Very neatly made in Italy.

Perfect for hot-weather riding.

The fabric is very lightweight but seems durable after a good few wash cycles.

Great fit with everything nicely proportioned – sleeves nice and long with a body that doesn't hang low even when loaded up.

For me (178cm, 68kg) it did size up a bit too big, but only because I could have done with a little more tightness to hold it in place when loaded up, and the sleeves are generous enough that sizing down wouldn't compromise the overall 'relaxed' ethos.

Very light indeed.

Very soft against the skin, quick drying and, of course, not skin tight.

Le Col is a premium brand with almost designer status in cycling so it's never going to be what you'd call a bargain, but for a quality garment that's made in Italy, looks great and performs just as well, it's not unreasonably priced.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

On first wash (a coloureds wash) the white section seemed to pick up a slight blueness, but that has since come out. Always a worry with kit that's half white and half a more solid colour, but I'm pretty sure the grey didn't run into the white – it was from something else. With the grey/white colourway you have got to keep on top of what else is going in with it – no accidental new black kids' school socks.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

I agree with Le Col that the Sport II jersey combines comfort, performance, durability and a flattering fit, but I would say with its very lightweight fabric it's a summer jersey rather than a "go-to training jersey year round".

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

I liked everything about it, even the relaxed fit after an initial doubt.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

If I could choose my sample size again, I would go for the small rather than the medium because I found the larger size – because of the more relaxed fit – could twist slightly when the pockets were loaded.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Of the three 'relaxed' or 'classic' jerseys I've reviewed so far this year, the Le Col is the most expensive. The Santini Karma Luce costs £80 and the Shimano Climbers Jersey £74.99. I think the Le Col jersey outperforms those two and looks better too, so I would pay the extra for it.

Use this box to explain your overall score

Super-stylish jersey with a more relaxed fit than the skinsuit-tight racing type, but with its very lightweight fabrics and well-planned design it offers top-level performance.