GABBA, THE STORY OF AN ICON
The Gabba changed the way pros race and train in wet conditions. Born in 2010, it created a completely new category of cycling apparel and quickly became one of Castelli’s most iconic pieces.
Here is the story of the Gabba, from its beginnings to the latest evolution of the concept.
THE EVOLUTION OF THE GABBA
2010 - THE REVOLUTION
We were all pretty surprised at how excited the riders were about this new weird piece of equipment. It was stealth black, short sleeved and aero, and when the riders came to the first race everybody was looking at them, probably thinking, “What is this?”
The idea was radically different from traditional rainwear: create protection for foul weather without giving up the fit, breathability, and performance riders needed to race hard.
2013 - BECOMING AN ICON
March 17, 2013: the day everything changed.
Snow, rain and freezing conditions hit the 104th edition of Milan-San Remo. It was also the day that unexpectedly showcased the Gabba to a much wider audience.
Many riders from other teams were spotted racing in the Gabba, some with the iconic scorpion logo covered because of sponsorship obligations.
That was the day the Gabba became an icon.
2016 - THERE'S ONLY ONE GABBA
Every rider immediately recognized that this was a game changer for racing in cold and wet weather.
The third generation of the Gabba became a favorite piece of equipment among professional riders, with improved protection and exceptional breathability even as conditions changed during the ride.
2020 - THE EVOLUTION
A decade after Castelli launched the Gabba project, the fourth generation marked another major step in its evolution.
The principle remained the same: continue improving protection and performance without losing the close-fitting, race-ready character that had defined the Gabba from the beginning.
THE GABBA TODAY
ONE IDEA, TWO APPROACHES TO PERFORMANCE
GABBA R
When rain becomes the defining condition of the ride, Gabba R provides a higher level of waterproof protection.
Its Castelli-exclusive fabric uses a microporous, electrospun hydrophilic polyurethane membrane positioned on the outside of the garment, combining waterproof protection, stretch, and race-oriented performance.
BLACK
BLACK RACE EDITION
GABBA PRO
FIT: RACE
TEMPERATURE: 12°C - 20°C | 53°F - 68°F
GABBA PRO
Gabba Pro is designed for days of high effort, when most of the ride is spent at faster, more intense zones.
Its 150 g Polartec® AirCore™ fabric is lightweight, breathable, and stretchy, while the PFAS-free, electrospun, semi-air-permeable membrane provides protection in cool conditions and light showers.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE GABBA?
The Gabba is a race-focused cycling garment introduced by Castelli in 2010. It was created to combine weather protection with the close fit, breathability, and performance required for hard riding.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GABBA PRO AND GABBA R?
Gabba Pro prioritizes breathability for high-intensity riding in cool and damp conditions, with protection from light showers. Gabba R provides fully waterproof foul-weather protection when rain becomes the main concern.
WHAT MAKES THE GABBA DIFFERENT FROM A TRADITIONAL RAIN JACKET?
WHAT MAKES THE GABBA DIFFERENT FROM A TRADITIONAL RAIN JACKET?
The Gabba was created to provide weather protection without giving up the close fit, breathability, and performance required for hard riding. Rather than approaching rain protection as a loose outer shell, the Gabba is designed as a race-ready cycling garment.