Peloton Fashion Parade

Once the dust has settled in the post-season contract scramble, the cycling pre-season can be a pretty dull affair. The same, however, can't be said for some of the new jerseys teams are releasing for next year (we're looking at you, Tinkoff). Here is a selection of the best (and worst) of the bunch:

Team Sky

Sky and Rapha have kept things simple yet sleek over the previous few years, and there's no change here. The single blue and single white stripe across the middle break up the mainly black ensemble, and, although it may look as if every Sky rider appears to be the national champion of Estonia, should be easily distinguished from the rest of the peloton.

4/5

Dimension Data

The artists formerly known as MTN-Qhubeka have a new design to go with their new name. Keeping the black and white colour scheme, the African team have ditched the stripes and gone for a mainly white shirt, with black sleeves and a black stripe across the midriff. A nice, clean design that doesn't over-complicate.

3/5

Katusha

Simplicity seems to be the order of the day, as Katusha offer one of the biggest improvements on last season's offering. The team seem to have finally settled on a colour, opting for a strong red number, in contrast to last year's confused effort.

4/5

Cannondale

Reverting from their black design of last year, back to their better known lime green colour, Cannondale will be one of the easier teams to spot in this year's tours, although they have still chosen to stick with the diamond pattern that gives the jersey that 'granddad's knitted jumper crossed with a chocolate lime' feel.

2/5

AG2R

Only AG2R seem to be of the un-swaying opinion that sky blue and brown look good together. This time giving them a sleeve each. Urgh.

1/5

FDJ

The French team resembled a yoghurt pot last year and they haven't changed much this year. At least there's no brown.

1.5/5

Astana

Continuing with teams who apparently couldn't be bothered to change anything from last year, Astana serve up a recognisable, yet still decent, offer.

3/5

Giant-Alpecin

And another. Although Giant-Alpecin's 'if it ain't broke' approach pays dividends, retaining their smart and recognisable appearance.

4/5

Movistar

Another team who didn't have to make any drastic changes, the only downside they look as if they're sponsored by Flubber, which would actually explain Quintana's amazing ascents.

4/5

Lampre-Merida

It's pink. It's blue. It's still Lampre-Merida. It's still hideous.

0/5

Tinkoff

The luminous yellow is still there, but the blue has been toned down to almost grey and the camouflage pattern has bitten the dust. Instantly recognisable and it isn't their training kit. Oh God, that training kit...

4/5

IAM Cycling

The Swiss team has decided to switch things up a bit for this year, opting for a mainly white jersey, with a broken red and blue stripe across the chest. A clean design with a nice little incorporation of the Swiss flag in the stripe.

4.5/5

LottoNL-Jumbo

Less yellow. More white. Less rubbish. Still not great.

2/5

Etixx-Quickstep

Probably the biggest departure for an existing team, Etixx server up a sharp contrast to last year's jersey, with a bold blue and black design. The single white stripe breaks everything up nicely, making this, in this blogger's humble opinion, the best jersey of the season.

5/5

One for the road:

We mentioned that Tinkoff training jersey earlier, and you're not getting away with not seeing it that easily. By Jove, if we've got to be subjected to it, then so have you. So here it is, a seizure on a bike:

-5/5