The early part of the European road season often means racing in difficult weather, and the opening week of March 2026 was a perfect example. Riders at both Paris–Nice and Tirreno–Adriatico faced rain, low temperatures and challenging road conditions—exactly the sort of scenario that has driven the development of the new Giro Imperial All-Season (AS) shoe.

Launched today, the Imperial AS is designed to deliver top-tier road performance while providing additional protection against cold and wet weather. The model was developed in collaboration with Giro’s professional athletes, including recent signings Paul Seixas and Biniam Girmay, working alongside the brand’s footwear development team led by Raphael Dale in Annecy, France.

A new option within Giro’s flagship platform

During a recent event at the Adventure Sports Hub in Barcelona, Raphael showed several examples of professional riders sharing their feedback on the prototypes Giro shoes they were testing. The development team realised there was a need for a performing shoe that could cope with inclement weather, and after passing the test in the winter months and early season races, the final version is now launched to the public. Together with the recent launch of the Eclipse Pro helmet, Giro has started the year on a roll, same as their sponsored teams and athletes.

The Imperial AS expands Giro’s high-end road lineup built around the same forged carbon fibre outsole used in the Imperial II and Empire SLX II. By keeping the same stiffness and pedalling platform across these models, Giro allows riders to choose different upper constructions depending on fit preference and riding conditions without sacrificing performance.

The new shoe features a thermo-bonded two-layer upper combining warp-knitted mesh with a thin TPU skin to balance breathability and weather resistance. A dual-dial BOA Li2 closure system with machined aluminium dials provides micro-adjustable fit, while laser-cut venting and TPU reinforcements aim to maintain comfort and durability during long rides in difficult conditions.

At a claimed 234 grams per shoe (size 43), the Imperial AS remains firmly within the lightweight performance category despite the added protection.

A broad performance shoe portfolio

Over the past few years Giro has built one of the most diverse road shoe ranges in the peloton. At the very top sit the minimalist Empire SLX II lace-up model and the Imperial II, which combines a lightweight upper with BOA closures for riders seeking maximum adjustability. Below those flagship models are shoes like the Cadet, Regime, and Stylus, covering a wide spectrum from entry-level performance to serious racing.

The addition of the Imperial AS reflects another growing niche: high-performance footwear designed for less-than-ideal weather.