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Chris Froome smiles as he is surrounded by a crowd and photographers. He wears a white cycling jersey with the “uci” logo and rainbow stripes on the collar.

Rapha presents Mondial, a new biannual cycling magazine which raises the bar

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Date
21 July 2015

In the ten years since it first launched, Rapha has established a solid reputation for itself as the touchstone for all things concerned with cycling; whether that be a book of cycling photography, Kings of Pain, a series of stunning short films directed by brilliant Andrew Telling or the very best high-end gear any self-respecting athlete-on-two-wheels could wish to wear.

Never one to rest on its laurels, the brands latest venture is biannual magazine Mondial. “Anyone addicted to road cycling knows the sport is about much more than fitness and gear,” the brand explains. “For road riders, the sport lies at the heart of their identity and is the lens through which they view the world. The past decade has seen an explosion in cycling media, both online and in print… Mondial expands the idea of what road cycling is and what the sport can be.”

Created with the slick design finish and the incredibly high production values that have, over time, become synonymous with Rapha, Mondial looks at the subjects surrounding cycling from a new and unfettered perspective. Features range from the sartorial, looking at where cycling wear becomes graphic art, to the photographic, in the form of a series by Ben Ingham created in Japan, and an interview with the ever-present Bradley Wiggins, accompanied by images shot by photographer Jack Davison.

It’s sharp in its editorial curation and rich in commissioned imagery, setting the bar even higher where brand-generated content is concerned. Far from being just another notch on Rapha’s bedpost, Mondial looks as though it’s here to stay.

A pink magazine spread featuring a mix of editorial columns and a large, bold headline that reads “Mondial”. Above the headline, the brand name “Rapha.” is printed in a smaller, serif font.
Above

Rapha: Mondial, Issue #1

An open book with a bright red double-page spread. The number “2114M” is printed across the pages in a large, bold black typeface. Smaller text in the bottom left reads “Col du Tourmalet Pyrenees”, with a block of body copy beside it.
Above

Rapha: Mondial, Issue #1

An open book shows a photograph of a baseball team bowing in a line on a dirt field. They wear dark uniforms and white trousers, with mountains and a cloudy sky in the background.
Above

Rapha: Mondial, Issue #1

An open magazine spread featuring a portrait of Jan Gehl. The left page displays his name in large, bold black type, while the right page shows him looking off-camera against a pale blue background.
Above

Rapha: Mondial, Issue #1

An open book shows a close-up photograph of a kestrel on the left page. The right page contains a title, “Kestrel”, and several paragraphs of descriptive text.
Above

Rapha: Mondial, Issue #1

An open book shows a photograph of a cyclist in a white jersey with rainbow stripes across the chest. He is surrounded by a crowd of people and cameras, with a person in glasses leaning in close to him.
Above

Rapha: Mondial, Issue #1

An open book shows a black and white photograph of a train on a track. The opposite page features a headline that reads “The dominant tribe are the snowbirds, retired senior citizens who live in motorhomes and migrate south in the winter”.
Above

Rapha: Mondial, Issue #1

An open magazine spread featuring an article titled “Mazzucchelli”. The right page shows a close-up of a colourful, patterned eyeglass frame with abstract splashes of yellow, pink and blue.
Above

Rapha: Mondial, Issue #1

An open magazine spread featuring an article titled “Along English Roads”. The left page contains columns of text, while the right page shows a painting of a winding road through a green, hilly landscape.
Above

Rapha: Mondial, Issue #1

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About the Author

Maisie Skidmore

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Maisie joined It’s Nice That fresh out of university in the summer of 2013 as an intern before joining full time as an Assistant Editor. Maisie left It’s Nice That in July 2015.

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