Rapha Commemorates “Los Escarabajos”

Posted on | May 9, 2012 | No Comments

Rapha’s new Colombian super-light jersey pays tribute to ”Los Escarabajos”.

Referring to the Colombian climbers as Escarabajos (beetles) began when famous sports announcer Carlos Arthur Wheel in the 1953 Vuelta a Colombia referred to cyclist Ramón Hoyos as a “escarabajo de las montañas”. A year later the Mexican Sports Daily Esto headline for the Vuelta a México read “Llegan Los ‘escarabajos’” (the beetles have arrived) and the term stuck.

As would be expected from Rapha the design is tastefully done with the Cafe de Colombia logo reworked with the image of a beetle and the colors of the Colombian flag wrapping the jersey. According to Rapha the jersey is constructed of 3 proprietary technical fabrics specially designed for hot summer temperatures.

More info on the history of Los Escarabajos Colombianos (in Spanish) and pics at this link: ESCARABAJOS DE DOS RUEDAS