18) FDJ

FDJ have stuck with their predominantly white kit for 2016, the same jersey Thibaut Pinot wore on his way to Tour de France stage success on Alpe d’Huez last season.

And it props up our list of team kits, mainly because it’s white (rarely a good idea for cycling kit… especially when shorts are involved), but also because of the frankly odd picture of Lorrenzo Manzin they used to promote it (see above).

That’s an image we’ll struggle to get out of our heads…

RCUK rating: 1/5

16) Lampre-Merida

Lampre-Merida’s fuchsia-coloured kit has become an unmissable part of the colour of the peloton and it’s back this year – as modelled by Diego Ulissi and Sacha Modolo.

There’s not an awful lot to report, as it’s very similar to previous versions, and the Italian team will be keen to ensure success on the road stays on the same track too after four stage wins in their home Grand Tour in 2015, as well as a stage win at the Tour de France and two at the Vuelta.

We don’t mind the kit, as it happens, but it’s nowhere near our favourites either…

RCUK rating: 2.5/5

15) LottoNL-Jumbo

LottoNL-Jumbo didn’t enjoy much success in 2015, and as far as we were concerned there’s not much to shout about on the kit front either.

Happy to be part of @lottonljumbo_road in 2016! #newteam #motivation #goals

A photo posted by victor (@vocsnor) on Jan 1, 2016 at 10:33am PST

Sponsored by the Dutch national lottery, the yellow lotto balls remain on this year’s jersey but they’ve traded their predominantly yellow jerseys for a big splash of white in 2016.

It’s similar to their 2015 Tour de France kit, and ensures there will be no clash with the yellow jersey this year – but we’re still not big admirers.

RCUK rating: 2.5/5

13) Orica-GreenEDGE

They say if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it and Orica-GreenEDGE have taken those words to heart, sticking once again with their white, green and blue offering – but we think it could do with freshening up.

With Simon and Adam Yates committed to new contracts, the Aussie team will have plenty of fans on these shores and their kit is relatively easy to spot in the peloton.

It’s middle of the road when it comes to our verdict though.

RCUK rating: 3/5

12) IAM Cycling

How do you make your team stand out in the professional peloton? Well switching from dark navy blue jerseys to white will certainly help.

It’s a tactic IAM Cycling have deployed in 2016, though we’re not sure how well it will go down.

Unlike FDJ, they’ve stuck with dark shorts though so, like Orica-GreenEDGE, we’re going down the middle with our verdict.

RCUK rating: 3/5

11) Team Dimension Data

Team Dimension Data are making their WorldTour debut in 2016, and this is the kit we will see Mark Cavendish in this year after he signed a three-year deal with Africa’s team.

It’s a much-changed design from last year’s black-and-white stripes but, while we weren’t fans of the 2015 kit at at first, it was starting to grow on us by the time the season was up.

Cavendish’s fellow Brit, Steve Cummings, will also be pulling on this jersey in 2016 which, compared to last season’s offering, is just a bit plain.

RCUK rating: 3/5

9) Trek-Segafredo

Trek’s kit is largely unchanged from their 2015 offering, which paired their 2014 pinstripe design with a white upper half.

The eagle-eyed among you will see there is one big change though, with new co-headline sponsors Segafredo slapping their name right in the middle of the jersey.

The coffee brand’s red ‘S’ keeps things on point with the already red cuffs, so we’re happy to stick Trek just inside the top ten – one spot up from last year.

RCUK rating: 3.5/5

8) Astana

Astana have stuck with their tried and tested kit for 2016, though they will no doubt be hoping to swap it for more Grand Tour leaders’ jerseys after Fabio Aru’s Vuelta a Espana win.

Aru’s red jersey followed the yellow jersey Vincenzo Nibali won at the 2014 Tour de France, but it’s blue jerseys in which the team normally rides.

Specifically, it’s the same sky blue (and yellow details) which features on the Kazakh national flag and it’s certainly easy to spot in the peloton.

RCUK rating: 3.5/5

7) Movistar

Movistar will want Nairo Quintana to swap the team’s traditional blue colours with the maillot jaune in 2016 but it’s not stopped the Spanish-based squad making some minor adjustments to their kit.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! #YoSoyMovistarTeam ????????

A photo posted by Movistar Team (@movistar_team) on Dec 31, 2015 at 3:07pm PST

A white cuff on the sleeve and a white rear pocket, coupled with that big green M of Movistar add some eye-catching detail.

Alejandro Valverde’s take on the Spanish national champion’s kit is a bit minimalist, mind, so marks off for that.

RCUK rating: 4/5

5) Lotto-Soudal

Lotto-Soudal’s retro-inspired red kit is now in its third year, though Joker no longer sponsor the team and so have been removed from the shoulders.

Nevertheless it’s a stylish throwback, and it’s won plenty of fans since it was first introduced in 2014 – so it’s easy to see why they’ve stuck with it.

We like it at any rate and are keen to see if Andre Greipel will be following up his incredible form from last year’s Tour de France, when the German won four stages.

RCUK rating: 4.5/5

4) Team Sky

Team Sky’s final year with Rapha as clothing partner has seen significant change to their stylish kit.

Can’t wait to break the new kit out in Australia for the Jayco Sun Tour ????????☀️???? #TeamSky2016 pic.twitter.com/Yjo7wTp5E0

— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) December 11, 2015

The black jersey, with vertical blue stripe on the rear, remains but it now boasts sky blue and white stripes across the front too. We’re fans and it will make the team easier to spot in the peloton.

There is one small problem though – it makes their riders all look like Estonian national champions!

RCUK rating: 4.5/5

3) Tinkoff

Tinkoff can count the men’s world champion, Peter Sagan, in their number for 2016 and rather pleasingly the extroverted Slovakian has opted for black shorts with his rainbow jersey.

The rest of his team-mates will ride in fluoro yellow, as with their 2015 kit but minus the Saxo Bank sponsor logo, and you certainly can’t miss them in the peloton.

You won’t miss them when they’re out training either – check out the eye-catching La Datcha kits they revealed just before Christmas.

RCUK rating: 4.5/5

2) Cannondale

Cannondale Pro Cycling are back. Well, sort of, they’re still owned by Slipstream Sports as a result of last year’s merger but with Garmin no longer as co-title sponsors.

It means a return to the eye-catching green jerseys, with Slipstream Sports making their presence felt with a smart Argyle design.

Paired with black shorts it’s a winning combination, just like Johnny Vaughters and co hope will be the case behind the scenes after struggling for success last season.

RCUK rating: 5/5

Despite that prominent logo, it’s a stylish kit and a huge improvement on last year’s design, which came in at a lowly 14th in our 2015 rankings.

We reckon it was going to take something special to beat Cannondale to the number one spot, but we think Katusha have delivered.

RCUK rating: 5/5