Categories: Anatomy of a Photo

Anatomy of a Photo: Unveiling of Banesto’s New Kit

With the “widely anticipated” unveiling of both Leopard-Trek’s and Garmin-Cervelo’s new kits we thought it would be interesting to look back into the archives to see how it used to be done. Nowadays, the new team and kit presentations are done with much fanfare, limousines, black-tie events, and sometimes even strippers. But back in the day (at least in the early 90’s) it was a much more simple affair.

Looking at this photo it’s not hard to imagine the Banesto squad prepping outside on the Banesto bank steps in Madrid or some such place while the bank’s board of dignitaries waits inside in the conference room to see the product of their investments. But this photo leaves the viewer with these questions. Is the team fixing to mess with the board by hiking up their bibs, pulling down their leg warmers, and wearing their sunnies underneath helmet straps? Are they initiating new riders to The Rules by visually demonstrating crisp tanlines and the faux pas of short socks? Or maybe they’re waiting for Big Mig to show up and dress them properly. These are the questions a Velominatus asks.

(disclaimer: after vigorous “research” it was determined that it is not known whether this picture was taken at a pre-season team meeting or even in Spain for that matter)

Marko

Marko lives and rides in the upper midwest of the States, Minnesota specifically. "Cycling territory" and "the midwest" don't usually end up in the same sentence unless the conversation turns to the roots of LeMond, Hampsten, Heiden and Ochowitz. While the pavé and bergs of Flanders are his preferred places to ride, you can usually find him harvesting gravel along forest and farm roads. He owes a lot to Cycling and his greatest contribution to cycling may forever be coining the term Rainbow Turd.

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Steampunk says:

Jan 14 2011 at 10:30 am

@Marko
A-Merckx! What's not to like about this kid?
mightyninja says:

Jan 17 2011 at 8:45 pm

Marko :
If Phil-Gil keeps saying shit like this AND riding like a demon, he can break whatever rules he wants.
"It was nice in Geelong, I liked it. For me, if I could decide, I would race without them (radios). I can see a race, feel a race, so I don't need it. I won Lombardia without a radio. I was in contact with my teammates and not with the car, and when you have a good vibe with your teammates it's more important than the one with your directeur sportif. The most important relationship is the one you have with your teammates," Gilbert told Cyclingnews.
"Often in races I start with a radio but most of the times I take it off. A lot of riders want the radios because it makes them feel safe but I don't understand that. I respect it, but I don't understand. They say it's dangerous because you don't know what's coming up or around the corner but it's also dangerous when the directeurs tell everyone that they need to be in the first ten coming into a tricky corner. Everyone goes full gas trying to move to the front."

makes perfect sense to me
pello says:

Apr 7 2011 at 12:35 am

I am new here, and this photo alone made me join. I was and am very close to this team. Echavarri, team manager on the right, was the first of modern team managers. I have had the chance to do grand tour stages in the car with him. But the worst thing (or best...) he did to me was around 10 years before this photo. Start of a small race in the Basque Country, my father was going to do it in the team car and I was at there with the Reynolds team kit and my bike, I must have been like 10 years old. We were chatting with Echavarri about me starting racing and he just told me to forget about it and study hard instead. And that was it. Never joined a club although I trained with elites, but that was the end of my cycling career. Probably for the best.
Johnny hardknacker says:

Jun 14 2011 at 1:41 pm

I have that team kit framed. used. still dirty from the last sweaty hard bastard that wore it.
Jeff in PetroMetro says:

Jun 14 2011 at 2:14 pm

Awesome! Well, except for the sweaty part. Don't uncork the picture frame. I'm not sure you'd ever get the smell out of the room. But awesome nonetheless!
Jeff in PetroMetro says:

Jun 14 2011 at 2:16 pm

@Johnny hardknacker
The above response was for you, but I forgot to hit "Reply". Welcome!
versio says:

Jul 10 2012 at 12:35 pm

@frank

After further investigation, the evidence seems conclusive:

Very Pro, very awesome:

Jury is out on this one; the only thing making this picture cool is the loads of The V being piled on.

Compare that to this, where not even a shattered knee is keeping Museeuw from looking totally rad.

Finally, due to generous helpings of Rule #5 and Rule #9, this looks badass.

My conclusion is that the upturned visor is bad; it can be offset somewhat by the application of other Rules, but it definitely doesn't help.

Upturned visor feels like a Gomer Pyle style -- not really badass.
Kevin says:

Dec 14 2013 at 7:48 pm

It's funny, you all think short socks are not a good aesthetic today. Taller socks are an eyesore today - just for advertisement.