Giro Chrono Elite Short Sleeve Jersey review

Giro's top-tier jersey offers performance to match the price tag

This competition is now closed

By Matt Baird

Published: August 2, 2023 at 12:00 pm

Giro claims the Chrono Elite is its lightest jersey yet, and it’s targeting the hottest days on the bike with mesh panels and a UPF 50+ rating in the mix.

It’s sleek and lightweight, with the recycled materials completing a formidable spec list that really impressed throughout testing.

The comfortable fit and extensive ventilation make it one of the best cycling jerseys on the market, although it’ll set you back £40 more than the Giro Chrono Expert.

The Chrono Elite is Giro’s top-end jersey and boasts some high-level spec, including laser-cut sleeves, smooth materials made from recycled fabrics and a sizeable mesh area for ventilation.

The large polyester/elastane mesh area on the back and under the arms effectively increases ventilation, while the nylon and elastane blend ensures it sits close to the body without being floaty or restrictive across the full gamut of riding positions.

The colour options of black, ‘phantom blue’ and ‘charcoal mica’ are understated but, bar the odd reflective detail, they won’t give you huge visibility on the roads. I’d prefer it if Giro mixed up the colours instead of essentially offering two black versions.

That said, the ‘phantom blue’ on test here looks great, with the mint green logos and zipper heads standing out.

The Chrono Expert (£79.99) is one of my favourite jerseys of recent times, and the lighter and leaner Elite has proven similarly hard to fault.

The three open rear pockets are moderately sized and easy to access, but there are bigger around if you prefer to stash a jacket, tools and food on your body rather than on the bike.

The pockets keep their shape well and don’t sag when loaded.

The central zipped pocket is slick in construction, the large zipper head making it easy to open on the move. It was big enough to hold my battered old iPhone 7 and protective case.

The above points meant I picked this as my garment of choice to attempt Madeira’s 30 per cent gradient hills earlier this year.

I did have to remember to lather up with sun cream underneath the mesh area before heading out, because while the main body has a UPF 50+ rating, the mesh doesn’t.

The Chrono Elite is the priciest jersey in Giro’s road collection, but it’s also one that’s hard to fault for performance.

Ventilation is excellent, the spec list impresses and the fit is comfortable.

I’d like to see more colours in future seasons, though.

Editor of Cycling Plus magazine

Former 220 features editor, Matt, is now editor of Cycling Plus magazine. During his 13 years on 220 Triathlon, he raced everything from super-sprint to Ironman, duathlons and off-road triathlons, and is the author of 'Triathlon!' from Aurum Press