Editorial21 August 2024

Past Forward

Celebrating 20 years of performance, progress and panache.

A celebration of Rapha’s origins and creative continuum, Past Forward is about how a love for the sport inspires us.

Rapha launched in 2004 to define new standards in cycling apparel. Taking inspiration from road cycling’s rich heritage, monochrome aesthetics merged with a more tailored approach to technical clothing. Since then an obsessive approach to design has built pioneering products and a global movement.

With celebratory Rapha20 products, our Past Forward exhibition in September and a very special publication, this is also about recognition for those who have joined us on the journey so far.

PAST FORWARD: THE EXHIBITION

Rapha marked its inception in 2004 with the Kings of Pain exhibition at the Truman Brewery in London. This September, Rapha returned with a week-long exhibition, events, rides and limited edition product launches, the Past Forward Exhibition was a celebration for everyone who has joined us on the journey so far.

Past Forward was part of this year's London Design Festival and included a journey through Rapha’s most iconic moments, a kinetic installation by creative studio Isabel+Helen, rides, talks, special edition products and a first look at Rapha’s Future of Cycling Manifesto.

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20 years of performance, progress and panache.

PERFORMANCE.

Attention-to-detail and rider-specific solutions underpin Rapha’s pioneering product craft. From the first industry-leading sportwool jersey to the latest WorldTour innovations, we continue to evolve the form and function of cycling apparel, wearing a love for the sport on our sleeve.

PROGRESS.

Reframing cycling with a wider lens and inspiring more people to discover the world’s greatest sport, Rapha has elevated cycling traditions by disrupting them. In 2007 Rapha Condor rewrote the rules of UK road racing with their monochrome kit, high-risk tactics and affable demeanour. In 2024 Team AMANI are doing the same, reshaping the sport in a unique way, bringing East African gravel racers to the fore. Based in Iten, Kenya, these young athletes know no bounds.

PANACHE.

Our ambition has always been to do things our own way and celebrate those individuals who ride into the unknown. From pioneers of the sport’s past to Lachlan Morton’s self-supported Alt Tour in 2021, we champion the characters who think differently, celebrating stories of human spirit that make cycling unique.

RAPHA20 EDITIONS

Re-engineered classics and contemporary creations celebrating Rapha20. These collections are available with extremely limited quantities. Sign up to be notified first about our upcoming launches.

Flandrien Collection

The Flandrien Collection is a revival of Rapha’s original design aesthetic and inspired the EF Pro Cycling Tour of Flanders kit.

Gazzetta Gilet

The Rapha Gazzetta Gilet is a modern reworking of an iconic design from 2008. Like the original, it honours one of the great institutions of road cycling – the pink sports newspaper that founded Il Giro.

Pantani

30 years on since Marco Pantani announced himself to the world on the Passo del Mortirolo and 25 years since his most audacious exploit on Monte Oropa, we present our Pantani Collector’s Set.