Team Sky has unveiled its new Castelli kit for the 2019 season and revealed a return to black for the team’s tenth year in the peloton.

The kit incorporates a blue to black gradient, with the blue being inspired by the team’s commitment to Sky Ocean Rescue (SOR). The SOR logo is also prominent on the collar of the jersey, as the team continues to raise awareness of Sky’s campaign to help inspire simple, everyday changes to stop our oceans from drowning in plastic.

The jersey retains the iconic line on the back, a defining feature that has been ever-present since the team’s inception, while rider names have moved back to the side of the jersey, echoing the team’s previous designs.

The Team Sky data pattern - which featured on the jersey in 2017 and 2018 – will transfer to the team bus for 2019, where it will exist as a living example of what the team has achieved in its first nine years on the road.

The kit is once again manufactured by Castelli, who have enjoyed unprecedented success since joining the Team Sky partnership portfolio in 2017, with the famous scorpion on the top-tier of the Champs-Élysées podium once again in 2018 following Geraint Thomas’ Tour de France victory.

Team Sky Principal Sir Dave Brailsford said: “We’ve enjoyed another fantastic year of collaboration with Castelli and are delighted with our new look for 2019. Castelli share our attitude and outlook in their approach to research and development and we have been continually impressed by their pioneering work from the moment our relationship started. They have played a major role in our success over the past two seasons and are a big part of Team Sky. This year’s jersey is a special one for the team as we enter our tenth year on the road. The design is befitting of that landmark and we believe this year's kit will be our best performing yet.”

Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome is relishing the opportunity to wear the new kit in 2019, commenting: “I love the look of the new kit. It’s a classic design and I can’t wait to race in it in 2019.”

Current Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas is also a fan of the new look, adding: “The kit is a nice celebration of our tenth year in the peloton - I can see lots of our old designs in the new look for 2019. I'm looking forward to pulling it on in the New Year.”

Steve Smith, Brand Manager at Castelli, is excited about the new kit for 2019, commenting: “Our partnership with Team Sky continues to go from strength-to-strength and the kit design for 2019 is another hugely positive step forward in the relationship. Not only does the new kit look great, but we’re confident it will be the best performing Team Sky kit yet. The sixth generation of Castelli aero jerseys are more aerodynamic than ever before, as well as being lighter and more comfortable.”

Smith added: “Team Sky’s staff and riders provide us with valuable feedback which we use to continuously improve our products. This is vital for Castelli because most of the Team Sky products end up in our Castelli collection, so we’re happy to incorporate Team Sky’s expertise to make cycling faster and more enjoyable for cyclists everywhere. We’re proud of our partnership and looking forward to more success together in 2019.”