Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

is that the case? it was my understanding that teams use the kit that the manufacturers pay them to use. therefore rapha would have to stump up shitloads of cash to get a pro team wearing it.
that's how it works with the bikes, at least.

Yes and no. If Pro X wants to ride his favourite brand of bike or favourite kit and he's good enough, he'll get it, it will just be rebadged.

There's a pretty cool cyclingnews.com article about the lengths teams go to to make Brand X product look like Brand Y. They even reprint say Veloflex tubs to look like Michelin ProRace clinchers.