Eros Poli: Castelli brings back many happy memories
My first World Championships was in Mexico, 1980. It was also my first time with the Italian national team, it was actually the first time I’d even been…
CONTINUAL INNOVATION
Back in 1974, Castelli introduced a range of groundbreaking products, including the first-ever Lycra shorts and the iconic scorpion logo. Their innovations also included the first synthetic seat pad, sublimation technology, and fleece fabrics for cycling jerseys and kits. Today, many of the features you see in modern cycling apparel owe their origins to Castelli’s pioneering spirit. They set a high standard for others to follow by creating innovative clothing that remains unmatched to this day.
WORLD CLASS FABRICS
The first rider they worked with was Alfredo Binda, the dominant power of the 1920s and ‘30s Italian cycling and such a peerless talent that race organizers sometimes paid him not to attend their events. They have been dressing the best athletes in the world ever since, and over the decades, their list of clientele reads like a who’s who of cycling royalty.
FIRST WOMEN COLLECTION
Castelli was the first brand to launch a cycling collection exclusively for women. And that was in 1996. That same year, the brand equipped the Italian national cycling team and Paola Pezzo when she won the Olympic gold medal in mountain biking. Today, their women’s collection offers a range of comfortable and well-fitted clothing options featuring technical fabrics and panel construction.
THE STORY OF CASTELLI
Castelli was the first company to introduce Lycra in the 1970s, the first windproof and thermal jerseys in the 1980s, and the revolutionary Gabba rain jacket in 2010.
It’s a commitment that continues to this day, and it’s one of the reasons that inGamba is so proud to partner with them. Our founder, João Correia, wore Castelli when he was a pro rider, and they made our lead guide Eros Poli’s first-ever national team kit. And you might not know this, but our earliest trips were actually done with Castelli gear, too. So it’s fair to say we go back a long way.
We recently had a conversation with Alvin Nordell, who is the product marketing manager and pro-team liaison for Castelli. Alvin has over 20 years of experience in racing and riding across the US and Europe. He works closely with the Soudal-QuickStep Pro Cycling Team and gets valuable feedback from Pro riders who put the Castelli kit through the harshest and most demanding situations possible.
