Pro cyclists and their shoes: a never-ending love affair

Cyclists love to use their shoes to make a statement - here we round up some of our favourite footwear from the past few years

Adam Blythe on stage three of the 2012 Tour of Oman
(Image credit: Watson)

While the shoes of runners, footballers, tennis players and a whole host of other sports get pounded in the mud and dirt, the same can't really be said of cyclists' footwear. That's not to say that cycling shoes aren't important - as a contact point between rider and bike, they serve a vital function. But there's a new function that pro cyclists' shoes have grown to serve in the past few years: self expression.

Most of a pro rider's kit is strictly dictated by the team, but shoes are one area where it seems pretty much anything goes. Riders can use their shoes to exclaim their nationality, celebrate past success, send a message, be individual or just have a bit of fun.

Here we've collected together some of the wild and wonderful designs worn by riders over the past couple of years.

Photos by Andy Jones and Graham Watson

Trott-shoes-2

Laura Trott was sporting these flowery Nalini shoes at the Track World Cup in London

Trott-Shoes-4

More flowery goodness from Laura Trott, this time SIDIs

Yanto Barker's shoes, Jersey International Road Race 2014

Yanto Barker's shoes, Jersey International Road Race 2014

Yanto Barker's union flag Bont  shoes in action during the Jersey International Road Race 2014

Adam Blythe's shoes, Tour Series 2014, Barrow

Adam Blythe can usually be relied upon to wear something out of the ordinary

Francois Pervis, Revolution Series, London, March 2014, day one

French track sprinter Francois Pervis reminds his rivals of his world records and world champion status

Sir Chris Hoy's Bont shoes 2009 Manchester world cup.jpg

manchester track world cup, track world cup, world cup, track racing, uci, sir chris hoy, victoria pendleton, ross edgar, wendy houvenaghel, jason kenny, jess varnish, becky james, team gb, team sky+hd, sky team, british cycling, manchester velodrom

Sir Chris Hoy is not one to show off: he's went for a subtle personalised look in these Bont shoes for the 2009 Manchester World Cup

Ben Swift's overshoes, Tour of Britain 2011, stage two (cancelled)

Ben Swift's overshoes, Tour of Britain 2011, stage two (cancelled)

Okay, they aren't shoes, but Ben Swift's shoe covers offer a patriotic flavour

Mark Cavendish's shoe, British road race national championships 2011

Mark Cavendish's shoe, British road race national championships 2011

Nike sponsored athlete Mark Cavendish also goes for classy black with his trademark signature

Wendy Houvenaghel's shoes, British Track National Championships 2011

Wendy Houvenaghel's shoes, British Track National Championships 2011

Wendy Houvenaghel's colourful Lake footwear from 2011

Giro d'Italia - Stage Three

The shoes of Adam Hansen on stage three at the 2013 Giro d'Italia team presentation

(Image credit: Watson)

Pro rider Adam Hansen makes his own carbon shoes, said to be extremely lightweight

Adam Blythe's shoes, Spadger's 6 Day Night 2013

Adam Blythe's shoes, Spadger's 6 Day Night 2013

More unique style from Adam Blythe, this time from the Spadger's Six Day Night in 2013

Russian-team-pursuit-Bont-shoes

bont, bont crono shoes, russian

Aerodynamic Bont shoes worn by the Russian team pursuit squad

Scotland shoes and socks, Commonwealth Games 2014, day one

Scotland shoes and socks, Commonwealth Games 2014, day one

Scottish shoe and sock combo from the Commonwealth Games

Dauphine-Libere - Stage One

Sammy Sanchez shoes on stage one of the 2012 Dauphine-Libere

(Image credit: Watson)

2008 Olympic road race champion Samuel Sanchez's shoes on stage one of the 2012 Dauphine-Libere

UCI Images

These are well within the limit

(Image credit: Watson)

Philippe Gilbert's rainbow shoes worn during the 2013 Tour de France

Tirreno-Adriatico - Stage Three

David Millar shows off his personalised shoes before the start of Stage 3 of the 2014 Tirreno Adriatico

(Image credit: Watson)

David Millar wore a different pair of Fizik shoes for every race he took part in during his last season (2014). The shoes were then auctioned off for charity. These are from Tirreno-Adriatico

Dwars door Vlaanderen

David Millar's shoes in the 2014 Dwars door Vlaanderen

(Image credit: Watson)

Eye-boggling design for Millar at Dwars door Vlaanderen

G.P.Scheldeprijs

The shoes of David Millar in the 2014 G.P. Scheldprijs

(Image credit: Watson)

Is that fire? Millar's footwear for GP Scheldeprijs

Bayern Rundfahrt - Stage 2

David Millar's shoes on stage two of the 2014 Bayern Rundfahrt

(Image credit: Watson)

Millar goes for argyle during Bayern Rundfahrt

TOUR OF OMAN - STAGE FOUR

Adam Blythe on stage four of the 2012 Tour of Oman

(Image credit: Watson)

My eyes! The final word from Adam Blythe

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Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, n exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.