Café du Cycliste Tichka jersey review

Café du Cycliste is based in Nice and its clothing range takes its cues from the colours of the Mediterranean. In the case of the Tichka jersey and several others among its recent pieces, that’s crossed from France to the southern shore, with the Tichka jersey taking its name from the 2,260m Tizi n Tichka pass in the Atlas mountains behind Marrakech. There’s a badge on the middle rear pocket to remind you of the pass and its altitude.

That’s not all that the Tichka jersey takes from Morocco though: the colours and patterns reference the Maghreb too. The mix of geometrics on the front, rear and pockets give the Tichka jersey a rather exotic look that I like a lot. There is a range of three different colourways, with different geometrics on each.

Café du Cycliste has used a nice mix of lightweight fabrics too, for good breathability that lets you keep your cool in hot conditions. The front and rear panels are made of a mesh that’s lightweight without being sheer. The side panels are of an even lighter mesh, so that there’s plenty of stretch.

Extra-light fabrics can lead to a bit of pocket sag, but Café du Cycliste has avoided this. There’s a wide elastic strip sewn in across the back that supports the tops of the pockets, to help keep them firmly in place without being uncomfortable.

>>> Best summer cycling jerseys

The cut is pretty generous, so there’s plenty of room in the Tichka jersey even without the added stretch, while the high collar can be zipped up to keep out the draughts on cooler days.

>>> Buy now: Tichka jersey from Café du Cycliste for £131

Café du Cycliste sews small reflective tabs into the side hems of the pockets. Plus, it includes two large white reflective strips on each sleeve for additional visibility in lower light conditions. It says that the sleeves are a bit longer than normal too, for additional sun protection. It rates the jersey at UPF 30, so you shouldn’t have any problem with sunburn this summer.