International cycling union questions “ludicrous” Visma helmet

Team Visma Lease A Bike riders in action during the 3rd stage of the Paris Nice cycling race. Photo: EPA/Yoan Valat

The International Cycling Union has questioned the use of a new helmet debuted by Dutch cycling team Visma- Lease a Bike just 24 hours after it was first used in a time trial in the Italian stage race Tirreno-Adriático.

The helmet, described as “ridiculous” and “ludicrous” in the bike racing press, has an enormous visor, and a large frontal protrusion so that riders can still see the road with their heads down. “Essentially, it is more slippery in the wind,” Cycling Weekly said. 

Current international competition rules rule out “non-essential” components that are not designed for clothing or safety purposes and the UCI has banned a “head sock” which made the rider more aerodynamic from next month.

The helmet and others “may not directly contravene existing UCI Regulations”, but they do raise a significant issue because they focus more on performance than ensuring the safety of the wearer in the event of a fall, the organisation said. 

The body has now decided to launch an ‘in-depth analysis’ of its regulations on the design and use of time trial helmets. 

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