Cyclingnews Verdict

It's still not cheap but it is a comfortable, figure-forgiving kit with boutique detailing

Pros

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Excellent shorts fit
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Decent pad
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Premium decoration
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Hi stretch pockets
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Subtle gut camouflage
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Expanded sizing range

Cons

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High price
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Delicate pocket fabric

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The Le Col Sport II range is designed to be more forgiving on wider riders and thinner wallets while still giving a premium feel and look. That’s exactly what it delivers too, but it’s still expensive in basic performance for price terms.

Jersey

With a boxier cut than Le Col's race kit and highlight upper torso colours moving attention from your lower half, the Sport II jersey has a deliberately flattering style and it’s available in up to 3XL sizing. There’s enough stretch that it’s still reasonably snug on skinny riders, but the shoulders are boxy rather than fitted. It’s also very thin and see-through if you’re self-conscious, but it dries fast from sweat or showers as a result.

Le Col logo lycra sleeve cuffs and a silicone hem gripper stop it riding up, and the full-length front zip is hidden when closed. The neck is lined with fast-wicking material. The three rear pockets are made with the same fabric for loads of stretch even if you’re already maxing out the jersey fabric. We’d be wary of putting naked multi-tools or other sharps in there though as it’s delicate stuff. The side zipped ‘valuables’ pocket has a waterproof back panel but that wasn’t stitched shut on our sample so the contents were free to escape into the normal pocket. You get reflective flags on the pocket edges, aspirational packaging and a Le Col plastic zipper tab for £25 less than the Pro jersey. It’s still expensive at £95 though.