Rapha and USA Cycling are united by an ambition to build the most transformative era yet for the sport - winning a record medal haul, getting more people on bikes, and bringing new fans to cycling both in America and around the world.
The new National Team kit features a timeless design that honors the athletes and Olympic teams of Los Angeles 1984 who came before us and helped pave the way for the team that is now focusing on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games.
“Working with Rapha goes far beyond aesthetics,” said Jim Miller, USA Cycling’s Chief of Sports Performance. “Their technical expertise, attention to detail, and hands-on collaboration with our athletes and coaches will give our riders real confidence in what they wear and how it performs. At the highest level of international competition, the smallest details matter, and this partnership helps ensure our teams are equipped to deliver when it counts most.”
Rapha’s designs reflect a deep dive into the Olympic legacy of USA Cycling, with particular focus on the 1984 Games, a pivotal moment for the sport as the home nation took nine medals. Elements such as stars, stripes, and the use of red, white, and blue were carefully considered to inform designs that feel both contemporary and retrospective.
The Lightspeed pattern is central to the designs, drawing on the long tradition of using patterns to express motion and speed in sportswear. Stripes are also an integral part of both Rapha’s design heritage and the history of cycling apparel.
Balancing intentional aesthetics with functional performance, the pattern also responds to a specific request from USA Cycling athletes for a light-colored kit suited for hot conditions.
USA Lightspeed type appears on the front and back of the jerseys, providing an immediate and easily recognisable way to identify the rider. The designs incorporate a collegiate-style typeface, characteristic of American sports, accented with a stripe.
The sleeves of Rapha USA Cycling jerseys feature star and stripe detailing, with the left arm showcasing the iconic navy Rapha armband and script logo. The bib shorts contrast white striped stars and USA graphics with a navy base, designed to contour to the body and enhance the feeling of speed.
“Pulling on this jersey represents both an opportunity and a responsibility. It is an honor to race for your country… But it also comes with a responsibility to do that honor justice, not just in what you achieve but the way you compete and represent striving at the highest level,” said Kate Courtney, mountain bike world champion.
USA Cycling is proud to start representing Rapha in this new take on the stars and stripes design through 2029.
A replica kit and a range of merchandise will be available next month for fans to show their support for the team.
Image credit: Caroline Tompkins for Rapha
