Originally posted by Allister
Personally, any team colours that aren't earned look a little ridiculous to me. A replica yellow jersey just takes it up a notch.
I have to differ with you there. I have a couple of old Montreal Canadiens sweaters that I wear because I'm a hockey fan. Sometimes I even wear them playing shinny. I have an All-Blacks and a Springboks jersey, and I've even worn them [or their much-worn predecessors] playing a pick-up game of sevens.
The point is that it seems perfectly normal to me that someone would want to show his team allegience by wearing his team colours. Moreover, since cycling is an
entirely sponsor-supported sport, the licensing fees that the teams and sponsors get from the sale of these jerseys helps keep the teams racing. So it's not just moral. but financial support from the fans.
Having said that, I think the classification jerseys and championship jerseys, like the white world champion's jersey are a bit gauche. I've seen guys wearing the polka-dot jersey who can't climb... but at least they can dream.