Title: Revolutionary New Bulging Cycling Helmet Sparks Controversy in the World of Professional Cycling
The cycling community has been abuzz with excitement and controversy over the past few days, thanks to a groundbreaking new helmet design unveiled by Team Visma-Lease a Bike at the Tirreno-Adriatico prologue in Italy. The futuristic helmet, manufactured by Giro, has been compared to various sci-fi elements, ranging from Star Wars stormtroopers to extraterrestrial beings. While some onlookers find the design intriguing and potentially performance-enhancing, others believe it to be an eyesore at best or a safety concern at worst.
Team Visma-Lease a Bike riders made their grand entrance with the large, bulging helmet on Monday, marking the beginning of a new era in time trial performance. The Aerohead II helmet, with its sizable front end and width almost equating to that of a rider’s shoulders, is intended to make riders faster in time trials. Paul Martens, the team’s head of rider apparel, expressed his enthusiasm about this collaboration with Giro and their innovative design approach.
“Our collaboration with Giro has been nothing short of boundary-pushing,” Martens shared in a Website video integration statement, available on X (formerly known as Twitter). “The appearance may be different from what you’re used to, but we truly believe that this new way of thinking about the aero helmet will yield significant improvements in our old system for time trials. We hope to showcase its potential today.”
Jonas Vingegaard, the Tour de France champion and Team Visma-Lease a Bike’s first rider to test the new helmet in Monday’s time trial, finished ninth, 22 seconds behind winner Juan Ayuso of UAE Team Emirates. Although the results did not reflect an immediate performance boost, the team remains optimistic about the potential benefits of this revolutionary design.
However, not everyone shares their enthusiasm. Eurosport commentator Robbie McEwen voiced his disapproval, calling the helmet a “thorn in my eye” and a “firm no from me.” In response to the buzz surrounding this innovative design, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), cycling’s global governing body, has announced a review into its rules around helmet designs.
“The UCI acknowledges that while this may not directly contravene existing UCI Regulations, it raises a significant issue concerning the current and wider trend in time trial helmet design,” the UCI statement read. “The focus on performance seems to overshadow the primary function of a helmet, which is to ensure the safety of the wearer in the event of a fall.”
The review will also examine the Rudy Project Windgream HL 85 helmet, used by the Bahrain Victorious team, and the POC Tempor helmet, which has been adopted by several teams. The UCI aims to address these concerns in relation to commercial availability, non-essential components, and the shape and size of time trial helmets.
Additionally, the UCI announced that head socks – balaclavas built into cycling helmets – will be banned at international events starting from April 2. This decision was made following a review to ensure compliance with the UCI’s equipment regulations.
Cycling has a long history of pushing the boundaries when it comes to aerodynamic design, and this new helmet design is just another example of the sport’s commitment to maximizing a rider’s performance. Despite the controversy surrounding the Aerohead II helmet, one thing remains clear: cycling is always evolving, and innovation will continue to drive the sport forward.
CNN has reached out to Specialized, Visma-Lease a Bike, Giro, and Rudy Project for their perspectives on the UCI’s review into helmet designs. Stay tuned for updates on this evolving story in the world of professional cycling.
