First-ever Tour de France rest day jersey designated by Visma-Lease a Bike after fan vote for special-edition design generates 100,000 responses in three days

Visma-Lease a Bike has unveiled a special edition jersey design titled "The Architect" for the 2026 Tour de France, marking the first time a Rest Day jersey will be officially designated in the race. The design was chosen through a fan vote that attracted over 100,000 responses in just three days, with the darker version of the jersey narrowly winning 52% of the votes. This dark jersey, featuring a black base accented with yellow honeycomb motifs, will be worn by the team during race days, while a lighter yellow variant will serve as the Rest Day jersey, worn on non-racing days of the Tour. The design pays homage to Barcelona, the city hosting the Grand Départ in 2026, by incorporating architectural drawings inspired by Antoni Gaudí, the renowned Catalan architect whose works are celebrated worldwide and recognised as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Both jersey versions blend the team's signature honeycomb pattern with Gaudí’s intricate technical plans, creating a unique visual identity that connects the team to the host city’s cultural heritage. The Rest Day jersey will be worn on July 13 and July 20, corresponding to the Tour’s rest days in Cantal and Haute-Savoie. Jasper Saejis, CMO of Visma-Lease a Bike, emphasised the growing importance of fan engagement in the team’s identity, highlighting that involving supporters in the jersey design process strengthens the connection between the team and its followers. The fan-driven selection continues a tradition of special edition kits for the team, which have previously included designs inspired by Dutch Masters and bee motifs. Both versions of "The Architect" jersey, along with matching accessories like wind vests, gloves, and hydration bottles, will be available for pre-order until May 3, with an option for personalised name customisation at no extra cost. The 2026 Tour de France will start with a team time trial in Barcelona on July 4, followed by two road stages in northern Spain before crossing into France via the Pyrenees. This marks a significant return to Barcelona, which last hosted a Tour stage in 1965. The introduction of a Rest Day jersey adds a new dimension to the race’s tradition, potentially setting a precedent for other teams and events in the electric and traditional cycling worlds alike.