Santini Cima Coppi Jersey Men's

Though Santini opts to print one of Coppi's other nicknames, Il Grande Airone, on the inside of its collar, the Cima Coppi Jersey will always make us think of the great Italian's most grandiose nickname: Il Campionissimo. That's because at Competitive, our water cooler conversations tend to be about things like Who is the greatest cyclist of all time While Merckx may be the easiest answer, Coppi is a very close runner up and does threaten to overtake the Belgian by outshining him in star power alone. Santini apparently agrees, and the Cima Coppi Jersey is the Italian brand's homage to the prize named for the man often memorialized as the champion of champions. As far as nicknames go, that's admittedly grandiose, but Coppi warrants it in terms of his accomplishments in the saddle and his ability to capture the attention of the nation as both an international hero and a mercurial villain. His 1949 season alone justifies the title from an athletic standpoint that year, Coppi won San Remo, the Giro, the Tour, and Lombardy that's two grand tours and two monuments. Add to that a dash of salacious scandal and you've got a biography that's tailor made to appeal to a mid century Italy in transition to the modern era. Of course, all the cycling history in the world is useless if the jersey doesn't hold up to the rigors of the road. To ensure that it does, Santini assembles the jersey with a blend of high stretch, soft fabrics that ensures a fit that lives up to Coppi's impossibly cool style. The material also breathes, manages moisture, and encourages ventilation while suffering up climbs like this year's Cima Coppi, the Passo dello Stelvio. The Stelvio itself is memorialized as the highest point the Giro ever reaches and the first Cima Coppi, inaugurating the prize in the race's 1965 edition. It's also such a monster that, even in the Giro's contemporary May time slot, the climb is often shortened due to weather. Come mid summer, though, even those lofty peaks can b...