Retro Cycling Jersey FIAT - REDTED
The 1977 Fiat cycling jersey; a classic blue and white cycling jersey. The simplicity of this cycling jersey is exactly what makes it timeless and beautiful. Our choice was the Fiat cycling shirt as worn by the "cannibal" Eddy Merckx, here the blue and white shirt is finished with the Belgian tricolore at the sleeves and collar.
Sausage maker Molteni stopped sponsoring in 1976 and Merckx had to look for a new sponsor and ended up with Italian car manufacturer Fiat. Merckx surrounded himself in the Fiat cycling team with a large number of compatriots; Huysmans, Swerts, Delcroix, Martin, Janssens, Rotters, De Beule, Draux, De Schoenmaecker, Bruyere and his friend and cycling great Patrick Sercu. On the right are two French riders - Robert Bouloux and Jean-Luc Molineris - and Dutch cyclist Cees Bal. Cycling legend Raphaël Geminiani became the team manager.
On Geminiani's advice, Merckx rode a light program in 1977 in preparation for the Tour. He won the Tour de Mediterranee but did not start the Tour as a favorite. His new team, Fiat, seemed strong, but was it strong enough?
Favorites for the 1977 Tour were Lucien Van Impe (winner in 1976), Bernard Thevenet and Joop Zoetemelk. Merckx finished third in the prologue and his team won the team time trial. Sercu won three stages but eventually had to give up. Merckx struggled with stomach problems and lost a lot of time, but still won a stage after disqualifying two riders for doping. Thus he proved he could be great even in losses.
Merckx was heartily applauded on his last Tour, finishing gloriously sixth despite setbacks. Bernard Thevenet became the winner of the 1977 Tour de France.
Note! 'Italian' sizing - so it comes out slightly smaller. If in doubt, choose a size larger than your normal size. See size chart for measurements.