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The Capo Atlas jersey pairs an excellent fit with high-tech materials and well thought-out details.(Image credit: Marty Caivano)
The cycling-specific cut is wrinkled around the shoulders when upright but perfect when hunched over the bars.(Image credit: Marty Caivano)
The hidden full-length front zipper sports an easy-to-find pull.(Image credit: Marty Caivano)
The open mesh sides extend all the way up through the armpits and sleeves for extra ventilation.(Image credit: Marty Caivano)
The three deep rear pockets hold a lot of gear though angled side pockets would be easier to access.(Image credit: Marty Caivano)
Save for the fancy 'carbon micro-fibre' fabric, Capo's top-end Atlas short-sleeved jersey is refreshingly free of trendy features and buzzwords yet it ticks all the fundamental boxes so soundly that we still find ourselves regularly reaching for it when it comes time to hit the road.
First off, the cut is appropriately form-fitting without being overly snug – there's virtually no excess fabric on the front of the torso to flap in the breeze when you're in the drops, there's proper coverage out back without unnecessary bunched fabric at the front of the waist, and the feel across the back of the shoulders is just right when your arms are outstretched ahead of you.
Moreover, the siliconised hem does a good job at keeping the bottom of the jersey where it should be and the hidden full front zip is easy to operate on the bike with its easy-to-grab pull.
The carbon micro-fibre's relatively open weave does a good job of passing air through the jersey and mesh side panels that run all the way from the hem up through the armpits to the end of the sleeves allow even more cooling ventilation in.
We didn't notice any benefit of the carbon-enhanced fabric, though, and while the Atlas is very good overall in ultra-hot weather we'd happily trade the carbon yarns for some extra mesh when 'simmer' turns to 'boil'.
Out back, the three conventionally placed pockets are all deep enough to swallow your whole hand up to the wrist, making for easier carrying of extra layers in iffy weather.
They're placed a tad high on the body, however, and an angled cut on the side pockets would make them easier to access. An additional zippered pocket for valuables would be nice to have as well.
Overall, though, there's little to fault here. The pricetag is a tad on the high side but still reasonable for what you get – a spot-on enthusiast-appropriate fit, true made-in-Italy quality, very good ventilation for hot weather rides, and styling that's eye-catching without going over the top. Solid marks all around.
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