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Cycling’s world governing body will review time trial helmet designs after issuing a ban on a ‘head sock’ element. <\/b><\/p>\n
The UCI says it wants to ensure radical designs do not compromise safety.<\/p>\n
“It raises an issue concerning the current trend, focusing more on performance than to ensure the safety of the wearer in the event of a fall,” it said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The ‘head sock’ is a built-in balaclava attached to helmets which is designed by American company Specialized.<\/p>\n
Its TT5 helmet is supplied to teams including Soudal-Quick Step and Bora Hansgrohe, but the ‘head sock’ element has been banned after UCI officials deemed it “non-essential” to safety or “clothing purposes”. <\/p>\n
The UCI added: “After conducting a thorough process, it was concluded that the head sock is a ‘non-essential’ component…<\/p>\n
“As a result, the head sock integrated into the TT5 helmet will no longer be permitted for use at events on the UCI international calendar, effective from 2 April 2024.”<\/p>\n
Time trial helmets – used in a race against the clock – have long been designed to aid aerodynamic efficiency during competition.<\/p>\n
Recent years have seen ever more innovative shapes as top teams look for the marginal gains which have become synonymous with cycling.<\/p>\n
All equipment used on cycling’s World Tour must be commercially available. <\/p>\n
Questions have also been raised over the new oversized helmet design debuted by Visma-Lease a Bike at Monday’s opening time trial at the Tirreno-Adriatico race in Italy.<\/p>\n
Visma-Lease A Bike rider Matteo Jorgenson told ITV Cycling: “I don’t know what to say [about its performance] – it’s some alien technology.”<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Tuesday’s Paris-Nice team time trial was won by UAE-Team Emirates, with American Brandon McNulty wearing the yellow jersey ahead of Wednesday’s stage four race to Mont Brouilly.<\/p>\n
In Tirreno-Adriatico, Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen won the sprint into Follonica for his Alpecin-Deceuninck team.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n