The men and women of Cervelo TestTeam will be riding in a new team kit this summer starting with the upcoming Tour de France 2009 and the Giro d’Italia for women.

The revised jersey and shorts, made by Castelli, feature the same visual design as the original black version but with a color reversal. In other words, what was black on the original kit is now white.

“We made the design change because racing during the hot summer temperatures that are normal in Europe is hard on the riders,” said Thomas Campana, managing director og Cervelo TestTeam and added that “and the lighter colour will provide some relief from the heat. All modifications to team kit design must be approved by the UCI and we appreciate their prompt attention in this matter.”

“Racing in hot weather is physically demanding, that’s a given, and despite the fact that Castelli makes some of the lightest and coolest fabrics in existence, wearing a lighter colour will make a big difference, both psychologically and physically, to a rider’s well being,” explained Steve Smith, Castelli Products. “UCI agreed that the rider’s health is paramount, and so we instituted the change.”

The color is, however, not the only change to the jersey. “In addition to the new colour, the team is also debuting an updated Aero Race Jersey pattern that features new construction and fabrics around the arm and shoulder making it even more aerodynamic. With over 3 years of development and wind tunnel testing, this jersey saves 10 watts compared to standard race jerseys,” according to Steve Smith.