Red, White and Blue: Rob Hayles

Red, White and Blue: Rob Hayles

“It was a bog-standard skinsuit with two pockets, but with a decent helmet, narrower bars – it made a massive difference.” Aero pioneer Hayles leads the way in 2008

british national cycling championships Racing Rob Hayles

British national champions recall how they won their stripes, the pride in wearing them for the season and the effect it had on the rest of their careers. Podium fines, finish line crashes, curious combines, white shorts and unlikely alliances – these are the stories behind the jerseys.


Rob Hayles (2008)


I had hardly any kit, so when I went into the British Cycling offices and saw a long sleeve training jersey that was supposed to go to Joanna Rowsell, I took it! The sleeves were a bit short… But I did confess to her recently.


The skinsuit came about due to wind tunnel testing. I phoned Chris Boardman over the winter and said I’m going to wear a skinsuit for road races. He said he’d done it one year in the Archer Grand Prix and got laughed at. But he said do it.


It was a bog-standard skinsuit with two pockets. There was no trickery to it in terms of funky panels or anything. But with a decent helmet, narrower bars – it made a massive difference.


Dave Zabriskie wore one, having chatted to Dave Millar. I remember watching Paris-Tours that year and seeing Zabriskie wearing it.

 

 

Matt Stephens, Ned Boulting, Lisa Brambani and Mandy Jones

The post Red, White and Blue: Rob Hayles appeared first on The world's finest cycling magazine.

british national cycling championships Racing Rob Hayles

READ MORE

Mads Pedersen might go long at Tour of Flanders again: 'I can’t wait to see what the others do'

Mads Pedersen might go long at Tour of Flanders again: 'I can’t wait to see what the others do'

The Lidl-Trek rider finished second in De Ronde in 2018, and has been trying ever since to elevate himself onto the podium's top spot. To...

Leggi di più
Tour of Flanders CEO is changing cycling like no one has before: ‘There’s no such thing as a rule'

Tour of Flanders CEO is changing cycling like no one has before: ‘There’s no such thing as a rule'

Former basketball player Tomas Van Den Spiegel has revolutionised Flanders Classics, creating a model of bike races that could become the benchmark for all. And...

Leggi di più
Tour of Flanders 2025 men preview: Is there any beating Tadej Pogačar?

Tour of Flanders 2025 men preview: Is there any beating Tadej Pogačar?

Rouleur takes a look at the favourites for De Ronde this Sunday

Leggi di più
‘Social media is a cancer of society’ - This is how Tadej Pogačar is doing things his own way

‘Social media is a cancer of society’ - This is how Tadej Pogačar is doing things his own way

The world champion says that making his own choices, keeping things fun and blocking out the noise is crucial to his success 

Leggi di più
Tour of Flanders 2025 women preview - Can Elisa Longo Borghini achieve back-to-back wins?

Tour of Flanders 2025 women preview - Can Elisa Longo Borghini achieve back-to-back wins?

The UAE Team ADQ rider starts as favourite on Sunday but she faces tough competition from the likes of SD Worx-Protime

Leggi di più
Tour de France in the Basque Country 2023

Itzulia Basque Country 2025 preview: route, predictions, and contenders

An overview of the punishing six-day race in northern Spain, which this year promises to be an open and exciting affair

Leggi di più

READ RIDE REPEAT

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Get closer to the sport than ever before.

Enjoy a digital subscription to Rouleur for just £4 per month and get access to our award-winning magazines.

SUBSCRIBE