Legal or not? Confusion reigns over UCI head sock rule at Itzulia Basque Country

In its final swansong on the WorldTour, Specialized's head sock for the TT5 helmet was worn to victory by Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe) on stage 1 of Itzulia Basque Country. Set to be outlawed by the UCI as of Tuesday, it could have been a fitting farewell for the brand's piece of aerodynamic technology.

Except it wasn't, because not everybody was aware the head sock was still legal.

Read more: UCI bans Specialized head sock and fires warning to Visma's new TT helmet

World time trial champion Remco Evenepoel was among those who missed out on the benefits of wearing the head sock, with his Soudal Quick-Step team under the impression that its last outing was at Paris-Nice in March.

Indeed, as Roglič and all of his Bora-Hansgrohe teammates rolled out in the 9.9km-long test with their head socks placed meticulously underneath their helmets - including fellow GC prospects Jai Hindley and Max Schachmann - Evenepoel and his colleagues were dumbfounded at what they were seeing.

"We were not allowed to ride with it, Bora-Hansgrohe did it," Evenepoel told Sporza after his ride had finished.

"In Paris-Nice, we had already been told it would be the last time then."

The Belgian finished 11 seconds down on Roglič's stage-winning time, which placed him fourth on the day and with a small deficit to make up as he eyes up the overall title come the end of the race. It was a day of drama in the Basque Country, with Roglič taking a wrong turn towards the end of his run and Evenepoel crashing on a right-hand bend just moments after rolling down the start ramp.

Read more: Itzulia Basque Country: Primož Roglič lays down marker with stage 1 ITT win

"Everything went well until after 200m and then I went on the ground. A bit of a silly moment, I think my own mistake just bending the bike too much in the corner," Evenepoel told Eurosport.

"It was a slippy part of the city and I could also see it on my legs and on my hands, everything was black from the grease so I think it's my own fault, my own risks and [we move] on to the next. Of course, I was hoping to be a bit ahead after today, but I think my crash was unlucky and because of this, I am a bit behind now."

Evenepoel's remarks in English were perhaps a bit calmer than those he made to Sporza earlier in the day, just shortly after finishing his ride sans head sock.

So how exactly did we get here and why the confusion? It appears that the UCI has been guilty of sending mixed messages.

'It's weird, the UCI does what they want'

When the UCI first announced a ban on Specialized's head sock - which is clearly designed to make airflow smoother around riders' necks - it was in response to the uproar caused when Visma-Lease a Bike had debuted a preposterous new TT helmet from Giro.

In their statement, it was made clear that the head sock integration was to be banned from UCI events as of 2 April 2024. This made sense as the WorldTour Itzulia Basque Country race - with its opening time trial on 1 April - was to be the last opportunity for Bora-Hansgrohe and Soudal Quick-Step to use the fabric before it was banned.

Read more: Specialized 'disappointed' at UCI head sock ban, highlights 18-month delay

However, Soudal Quick-Step team boss Patrick Lefevere indicated in his Het Nieuwsblad column that the team would not be using the head sock in Monday's time trial and after he had finished his ride, Evenepoel revealed the reason why.

"On the UCI website, it says that it is banned from April 2. The UCI has sent us an email that it would be banned from April 1. They don't know themselves, I think," he bemoaned to Sporza.

"If they send this message to us, then it will be prohibited for us from April 1. They put it differently on their website. We didn't want to take the risk, but this didn't make the difference. But it's weird: they do what they want."

© Getty Images

Roglič gives his face some fresh air as he celebrates his first win of the season

For the 24-year-old, who had already chastised the governing body for banning the head sock in the first place, the debacle was indicative of the UCI's often-changing and oft-confusing regulations when it comes to time trials.

"It's special, yes. They start to think of everything. This morning they said two hours before the start that the radios should stay on the back again. I don't know what to make of it."

Nevertheless, Evenepoel was able to produce a commendable ride in the absence of Specialized's head sock and may well have won the stage had it not been for his run-in with the tarmac. The Belgian will look to overturn his disadvantage to Roglič over the coming days and as for the UCI, Tuesday should finally bring some clarity on the head sock ban, if not satisfaction from the peloton.

Read more: Remco Evenepoel blasts UCI over head sock ban: 'They’re making all the riders turn against them'

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