The fans have spoken: Visma | Lease a Bike back in black for the Tour

Visma | Lease a Bike have unveiled the design for their Tour de France jersey. The kit is inspired by the work of Antoni Gaudí, the Catalan architect from Barcelona — the city where the Tour de France will get under way. Fans of the team will have a say in the final design through a public vote.

"The design is based on the creative concept The Architect, in which the influence of Antoni Gaudí and the iconic imagery of the city take centre stage. Natural structures play an important role in that concept. One in particular stands out: the honeycomb," the team announced on Tuesday morning in a press release.

"For Gaudí, the power lay not in how something looks, but in how it works. The honeycomb is the ultimate example of that: a collection of small elements that together form a strong and efficient whole. That idea fits Team Visma | Lease a Bike perfectly. We are a team built on the conviction that a collective approach delivers more than individual class alone.'

"The honeycomb pattern on the jersey makes that philosophy tangible and creates a link between the spirit of Barcelona and Antoni Gaudí and that of the team."

Fans were given a choice between two designs — a dark and a light version — both based on the same design principle. Voting ran from 21 to 23 April, with the winning jersey to be worn during the Tour. The fans chose the darker, predominantly black version.

The involvement doesn't stop at the vote. During the pre-order phase, fans will also have the opportunity to add their own name to the jersey — a personalisation subtly incorporated into an element reminiscent of an architectural signature.

Jasper Saeijs, Chief Business Officer of Visma | Lease a Bike, explained the thinking: "Our fans play an enormous role within the team. The yellow-and-black swarm grows every year, including along the roadside. It's great that we can once again involve them directly in the design of our Tour jersey."

Victor Campenaerts reacted to the announcement in his latest Instagram vlog, filming from a training camp. The Belgian hardman made a direct appeal to his fans: he wants to ride the Tour de France in the yellow version and urged people to vote accordingly.

Climbers Davide Piganzoli and Sepp Kuss also appeared in Campenaerts' video, throwing their weight behind the yellow option. However much they lobbied for the lighter jersey, the fans still chose black, despite the 15,000 likes on Campenaerts' video.

You can vote here on your favourite design.