Choosing a road cycling apparel brand is mostly a choice about three things: fit, price and what happens when something goes wrong. This guide compares seven well-known brands, Rapha, Castelli, MAAP, Assos, Pas Normal Studios, Santini and Van Rysel (Decathlon's cycling brand), using the brands' own product pages, prices and policies. RydeCruz does not make or sell cycling clothing, so this is an independent comparison. All prices are official US list prices checked on 8 October 2026 unless marked otherwise; several brands were running sales, and prices change often.

Key Takeaways

• Widest price range: Van Rysel jerseys start at $99.99 and its RCR-R 5 bib shorts cost $119, while the most expensive jerseys and bibs in this comparison (Castelli Premio EVO and Pas Normal Studios Mechanism Pro) list at $300–$350.
• Rapha is not only a premium brand: its Core jersey is $110 and Core bib shorts $160, cheaper than the flagship ranges of Castelli, Assos, MAAP and Pas Normal Studios.
• Best crash support: Rapha repairs crash-damaged clothing for free (up to five repairs a year in the UK, EU, US and Australia/New Zealand). Pas Normal Studios offers 50% off replacement kit, and Castelli and MAAP offer 40% off.
• Warranties: Castelli, Assos and Decathlon all state a two-year warranty against defects; Santini guarantees its products against material and manufacturing defects.
• Fit is the biggest difference between ranges, not between brands. Most brands sell a close "race" fit and a more relaxed "regular" or endurance fit, often at very different prices.

The Brands at a Glance

The table shows how different the brands' histories are. Castelli and Santini are long-established Italian makers; Santini made the Giro d'Italia's pink jersey from 1993 to 2017. Rapha, MAAP and Pas Normal Studios are younger brands built around design and direct sales. Van Rysel is the cycling brand of the sports retailer Decathlon, which designs and sells its own products.

Price Comparison

A few notes on these numbers:

• Sales change the picture. On the day we checked, Castelli's Aero Race 8S jersey was on sale at $154 in most colours, the Free Aero Race S bib at $175 and the Premio EVO bib at $245. Some Rapha Pro Team Training and Core jersey colours were half price.
• Santini's US store blocked automated access, so we could only confirm euro prices from Santini's EU store.
• Assos is cheaper than its reputation suggests. Its flagship Equipe R bib shorts ($230) cost less than the flagship bibs from Castelli, MAAP and Pas Normal Studios.

Brand-by-Brand Breakdown

Rapha

Rapha was founded in 2004 and runs its central office, the "Service Course", in London. Its range splits clearly by fit:

• Core Jersey ($110): made from 100% recycled polyester. Rapha calls it a "regular fit for a range of body types", less compressive than its Pro Team products.
• Pro Team Training Jersey III ($175): 88% recycled polyester and 12% elastane, UPF30. Rapha says it was updated for 2026 with a more engaged fit and longer sleeves, and recommends your usual size, sizing up if you are between sizes.
• Core Bib Shorts ($160): recycled nylon and spandex with an Italian chamois, again a regular fit.
• Pro Team Training Bib Shorts II ($250): a compressive fit with a single-density chamois.

Rapha's strongest point is after-sales: it will repair crash-damaged clothing for free (see the crash and warranty table below).

Castelli

Castelli traces its roots to a Milan tailor, Vittore Gianni, founded in 1876. Armando Castelli joined in 1935 and bought the business in 1939, and the scorpion logo dates from 1974. Today the brand belongs to Manifattura Valcismon in Fonzaso, Italy.

Castelli's range is the most aero-focused here. It says the Aero Race 8S Jersey ($220) offers "CdA savings of up to 6% over previous aero jerseys", and the Free Aero Race S Bibshort ($250) a 3% decrease in CdA. The Premio EVO jersey ($300) and bib ($350) are its premium woven range; Castelli says the woven bib fabric weighs 30% less than comparable knit fabric. The Aero Race jersey is labelled with a "Race" fit and the Premio EVO bib with a "Tailored" fit.

MAAP

MAAP was born in Melbourne and has made cycling clothing since 2014. It defines two fits on its product pages: "Race Fit", a compressive, second-skin feel, and "Core Fit", which it describes as form-fitting tailoring with softer, close-to-skin materials designed for layering.

• Apex Aeon Jersey ($215): Core Fit, using Polartec Delta in a polyester, lyocell and spandex blend.
• Apex Aeon Bib Short ($330): Race Fit, with a 3D thermo-moulded chamois made with Elastic Interface.
• Halo Pro Air Jersey 3.0 ($205): a race-fit jersey in recycled polyester and elastane.

Assos

Assos is based in Stabio, Switzerland. It splits its range into a race line and an endurance line:

• Equipe RS Jersey S11 ($235): which Assos calls "our WorldTour short-sleeve race jersey", with a second-skin racingFit.
• Equipe R Bib Shorts S11 ($230): a warp-knit fabric with UPF 50+, racingFit.
• Mille GT Jersey S11 EVO ($170): "the core of our endurance comfort series", regularFit.
• Mille GT Bib Shorts S11 ($210): with Assos's GT S11 insert, regularFit.

Every Assos product page lists a two-year warranty and free returns within 60 days. A crash policy is mentioned, but its terms were not shown on the pages we checked, so ask Assos before relying on it. The Mille GT bib page also contains an inconsistency: it describes recycled polyamide content, while its composition line lists polyester and elastane.

Pas Normal Studios

Pas Normal Studios (PNS) is a Copenhagen brand founded in 2014. It has three main men's ranges:

• Mechanism: described as its race-fit collection, matching "an aggressive position on the bike".
• Mechanism Pro: a second-skin fit. The jersey ($255) uses 4D stretch-woven fabrics developed for PNS, and the bibs ($350) have a four-layer ultralight chamois.
• Essential: designed for comfort and layering. The jersey ($185) uses an easy-care, quick-drying fabric for rides outside structured training and racing; the bibs cost $255.

PNS offers the most generous crash discount of the brands here: 50% off replacement kit.

Santini

Pietro Santini founded Santini Maglificio Sportivo in September 1965, and the company began production in a garage in Dalmine. It made the Giro d'Italia's Maglia Rosa from 1993 to 2017 and today designs and makes its products on a campus in Bergamo.

The Aero Race jersey (€160 on the EU store) uses Polartec Power Dry with Recycled Carbon technology and has a unisex "Pro fit" cut; the Aero Race bib shorts (€220) use an Italian woven fabric, a C3 chamois with gel inserts and one-piece seamless straps. Both are made in Italy. Santini quotes Polartec's claim that the fabric saves two-thirds of its own weight in CO2 compared with virgin polyester.

Van Rysel (Decathlon)

Van Rysel is Decathlon's cycling brand, and it is the value choice in this comparison. The RCR-R 2 jersey ($99.99) belongs to the Racer range and weighs 129 g in size M, with three rear pockets plus a zipped pocket. The EDR Ultra jersey ($99.99) is aimed at long-distance riding. The RCR-R 5 bib shorts ($119) have a "Pro Fit" cut and an Elastic Interface pad, weigh 170 g in size M, and are designed for 15–35 °C. Decathlon gives a two-year warranty on all products.

Crash Repair, Crash Replacement and Warranty

The details matter. Rapha's service is a repair, not a replacement, and repairs generally take four to six weeks; you pay postage to Rapha and Rapha pays for the return. Castelli's 40% discount can only be used on full-priced products in the same product group. MAAP's discount code is valid for 12 months and does not cover items bought from other retailers. If you crash often, or race, these policies can be worth more than a small difference in price.

Understanding Fit

Fit names differ by brand, but most ranges fall into two groups:

A race-fit jersey is supposed to feel tight off the bike. Try it in a riding position: the shoulders and chest should not pull, and the sleeves should sit flat without cutting in. Bib shorts matter even more for comfort. The chamois should sit where you contact the saddle, the straps should hold the shorts in place without pulling down on your shoulders, and the leg grippers should not dig in.

How to Choose

1. Start with your riding. If you mostly ride long, steady miles, a regular or endurance fit (Rapha Core, Assos Mille GT, PNS Essential, MAAP Core Fit) is usually more comfortable. If you race or ride fast group rides, look at race-fit ranges.
2. Spend on bib shorts first. In our view, a better chamois and fit usually improves comfort on long rides more than an upgraded jersey does. Treat this as editorial advice rather than a measured result.
3. Check the crash policy. If you ride in groups or race, Rapha's free repairs or a 40–50% crash discount can save a lot over a season.
4. Use the size chart, not your usual size. Each brand cuts differently, and race fits run small. Rapha, for example, suggests sizing up if you are between sizes on its Pro Team Training jersey.
5. Watch for sales. List prices are only part of the story; on the day we checked, Castelli and Rapha both had significant discounts.

Budget examples

Frequently Asked Questions

Which cycling apparel brand is the cheapest?

Of the brands compared here, Van Rysel (Decathlon), with jerseys at $99.99 and RCR-R 5 bib shorts at $119.

Is Rapha worth the price?

Rapha's Core range ($110 jersey, $160 bib) is mid-priced, and its free crash repair service adds value if you ride in the UK, EU, US or Australia/New Zealand. Its Pro Team Training range costs more ($175 jersey, $250 bib).

Which brand has the best crash replacement policy?

Rapha repairs crash damage for free (up to five repairs a year). For replacements, Pas Normal Studios offers the biggest discount at 50%, followed by Castelli and MAAP at 40%.

Is Castelli or Assos better for long rides?

Both sell endurance ranges. Assos calls its Mille GT line "the core of our endurance comfort series"; Castelli's Premio EVO is its premium range. Fit preference matters more than the brand.

Where are these brands based?

Rapha in London, Castelli in Fonzaso (Italy), MAAP in Melbourne, Assos in Stabio (Switzerland), Pas Normal Studios in Copenhagen, Santini in Bergamo, and Van Rysel is Decathlon's brand from France.

What is the difference between race fit and regular fit?

Race fit is close and compressive, designed for an aggressive riding position and less wind drag. Regular or endurance fit is less compressive and easier to layer, and is usually more comfortable for long, steady rides.

Does RydeCruz sell cycling jerseys?

No. RydeCruz does not make or sell cycling clothing; this guide is an independent comparison.

Are the prices in this guide current?

They are US list prices from each brand's official store on 8 October 2026 (euro prices for Santini). Prices and sales change frequently, so check the brand's site before buying.

Verdict

There is no single best cycling apparel brand. Van Rysel is the clear value choice, Rapha's Core range is a strong mid-priced option backed by free crash repairs, and Assos offers premium Swiss kit at lower prices than its reputation suggests. Castelli leads on aero claims, while MAAP and Pas Normal Studios are the design-led premium choices, with PNS offering a 50% crash discount. Choose the fit first, then the brand, and check the crash and warranty terms before you buy.

Sources

• Rapha: Core Jersey, Pro Team Training Jersey III, Core Bib Shorts, Pro Team Training Bib Shorts II, free repair service, who we are
• Castelli: Aero Race 8S Jersey, Free Aero Race S Bibshort, Premio EVO Jersey, Premio EVO Bibshort, history, warranty, crash replacement
• MAAP: Apex Aeon Jersey, Apex Aeon Bib Short, Halo Pro Air Jersey 3.0, about, crash replacement
• Assos: Equipe RS Jersey S11, Equipe R Bib Shorts S11, Mille GT Jersey S11 EVO, Mille GT Bib Shorts S11, 50 years
• Pas Normal Studios: Mechanism Pro Jersey, Mechanism Pro Bib, Essential Jersey, Essential Bibs, about, crash policy
• Santini: Aero Race jersey, Aero Race bib shorts, history, FAQ
• Decathlon / Van Rysel: RCR-R 2 jersey, EDR Ultra jersey, RCR-R 5 bib shorts, guarantee, about Decathlon

Equipment mentioned in this article

• Castelli Aero Race jersey
• Assos Mille GT bib shorts
• Santini Aero Race bib shorts

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