Castelli: The Italian Passion That Has Dressed the Peloton for 150 Years

Somewhere in the Dolomites, on roads winding between the peaks of Fonzaso, a cyclist pedals at dawn. They wear a red jersey. This cyclist might be a rider from the Soudal Quick-Step team, or perhaps a Sunday amateur. But that red jersey, it tells a 150-year-old story.

Founded in 1876 under the name Vittore Gianni, Castelli is one of the oldest cycling apparel companies in the world. And in an industry where brands are born and disappear in a few seasons, it's almost an anomaly. An Italian anomaly.

Cyclist wearing a Castelli Espresso cycling jersey on a country road The Espresso jersey, the centrepiece of Castelli's road range.

1876: The Birth of a Passion

The story begins in Milan, where Vittore Gianni launched a tailoring workshop specializing in competition attire. Italy was then a nation where cycling was more than just a sport—it was a popular religion, a symbol of freedom.

Armando Castelli joined the workshop in 1935 and bought it out by the end of the decade. But it wasn't until 1974 that the brand took the name it is known by today, under the impetus of his son Maurizio Castelli. He shaped its identity: absolute textile excellence, deep roots in the professional world, and the profound conviction that cycling apparel could be as precise as a mechanical part. He also drew the scorpion—an emblem whose origin the brand has never really explained.

Maurizio Castelli passed away in 1995 in a way that spoke volumes about his character: he suffered a fatal heart attack at 47, on his bike, climbing the Cipressa—the legendary ascent of Milan-San Remo. There is no better way to summarize a man, and a company.

Innovations That Changed the Peloton

Castelli didn't just follow cycling history. It wrote it repeatedly.

1977: The brand introduced the first Lycra bib shorts to the peloton. A material then unknown in the cycling world, which would become the global standard.

1981: Castelli dared to create the first coloured cycling shorts—a turquoise model unveiled at the Giro. A heresy at a time when the rules required black. A given today.

1983: The brand became the first to apply sublimation printing to cycling apparel—a technique allowing full-colour graphics on technical fabrics. Bernard Hinault's Renault-Elf team was its first showcase.

2010: Birth of the Gabba. Neither waterproof nor a simple windbreaker—something new, in between. An all-weather jersey that redefined what a cyclist could wear in wet and cold conditions, without sacrificing mobility or breathability. The peloton adopted it so fast that riders on teams not sponsored by Castelli bought it at retail price and blacked out the logo with a marker. In 2014, Castelli leaned into the joke and sold a version that shipped with its own marker.

Close-up of Castelli cycling bib shorts, flat seams and leg gripper Lycra bib shorts, the innovation that shifted the peloton from 1977 onward.

When Clothing Wins Races

In 2012, Canadian rider Ryder Hesjedal won the Giro d'Italia in a Castelli Body Paint 3.0 suit—a speedsuit designed to reduce aerodynamic drag to an unprecedented level in the peloton.

This is no coincidence. Castelli develops its innovations directly with professional riders, on the roads of the Dolomites. Prototypes are tested in real conditions, modified, and retested. This constant dialogue between the workshop and the peloton has been the driving force behind Castelli's innovation for over a century.

Today, the brand outfits the Soudal Quick-Step team, a global cycling benchmark. To mark its 150th anniversary, Castelli dressed the squad in a commemorative cream kit at the 2026 Giro d'Italia, layering the different scorpions the brand has drawn since 1974.

Nano Flex: Water That Glides

The Nano Flex technology perfectly embodies Castelli's philosophy: starting from a real problem and addressing it with a precise textile solution.

Nano Flex uses nanoparticles that create an ultra-hydrophobic surface—water beads off instead of accumulating. The fabric remains dry and light even in drizzle, without being fully waterproof. A concrete advantage in our climate, where spring and autumn rides often take place in mist or drizzle.

Cyclist in Castelli apparel on a mountain road in the Dolomites Fonzaso, in the Dolomites: where Castelli designs and tests its apparel.

A Range for Every Cyclist

Castelli covers all uses:

  • Road — jerseys, bib shorts, aerodynamic suits for fast rides
  • Endurance — more comfortable cuts for long distances
  • All-weather — the Perfetto and its derivatives, direct heirs to the Gabba, so you don't have to stay home
  • Thermal — technical base layers, arm warmers, insulating socks to ride until November
  • Triathlon — the Free Sanremo suits, built to carry you through all three disciplines
  • Gravel — cuts adapted to a more upright position and varied terrain conditions

The common thread throughout all these lines: Italian fabrics, meticulous finishes, and their unique way of ensuring bib shorts stay exactly where they should.

To explore what's available, a good place to start is the Espresso range, the versatile core of the catalogue.

Castelli cycling apparel worn on a road ride From road to gravel, the Castelli range covers every use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Castelli garments truly made in Italy?

The headquarters and main workshop are in Fonzaso, in the Dolomites. That is where Castelli garments are designed and tested. The brand now sells in the range of 2.2 to 2.5 million pieces per year.

When was the Castelli brand created?

The original workshop, Vittore Gianni, opened in Milan in 1876—hence the 150 years celebrated in 2026. But the Castelli name and the scorpion logo only appeared in 1974, when Maurizio Castelli took over from his father Armando. The brand therefore has two anniversaries: 150 years of the house, and 50 years of the scorpion in 2024.

Is Castelli suitable for non-professional cyclists?

Absolutely. The Castelli range covers all levels, from entry-level jerseys to pro suits. Technologies like Nano Flex are available on accessible items, not just on high-end models.

Which Castelli item should I choose for riding in the fall?

The Perfetto RoS 2 is the benchmark for changing conditions—it is the direct heir to the Gabba, in a long-sleeve version. Paired with thermal bib shorts and arm warmers, it's the ideal combination for cool and humid days in September and October.

Where can I find Castelli apparel?

At Bicycles Quilicot—online with shipping across Canada, or in our stores in Rosemont, Villeray, Laval, Sainte-Thérèse, Mascouche, and Mont-Tremblant.

Professional rider wearing a Castelli kit in competition Castelli technologies are validated in competition before they reach the shop floor.

In Summary

150 years. That's a long time. But what's striking about Castelli isn't the duration—it's the consistency. The same obsession for technical textiles, the same closeness to the professional peloton, the same ability to innovate without ever losing its identity.

If you're looking for clothing that performs when the weather gets serious, that lasts through dozens of washes, and that carries the heritage of Italian cycling without being over the top—Castelli is worth a visit to the store.

Want to explore the Castelli range?

Jerseys, bib shorts, all-weather jackets and triathlon suits—the full selection is available online and in store.

Shop the Castelli range

Sources

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