UCI approved our new Rudy Project helmet 10 days ago, says Bahrain-Victorious boss

The fallout from the new time trial helmets on show at Tirreno-Adriatico and Paris-Nice continues, with Bahrain-Victorious boss Milan Eržen telling GCN that the UCI approved his team’s Rudy Project helmet roughly 10 days ago.

The team were one of several outfits cited in the stern UCI press release on Tuesday that outlawed the Specialized 'head sock' and launched what the governing body called an "in-depth analysis of the regulations governing the design and use of time trial helmets".

The UCI’s position was made after Visma-Lease a Bike unveiled a jaw-dropping new Giro Aerohead helmet that was used in the time trial on stage 1 of Tirreno-Adriatico and the team time trial at Paris-Nice.

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

They weren’t the only team to face the glare of the sporting body with the UCI’s press release stating the following: "Regarding the helmet manufactured by Giro Sport Design, which was used by Team Visma-Lease a Bike at the Tirreno-Adriatico prologue, as well as the Rudy Project Wingdeam HL 85 helmet (used by Bahrain Victorious) and Poc Tempor helmet (used by several teams), 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, which focuses more on performance than the primary function of a helmet, namely to ensure the safety of the wearer in the event of a fall.”

On Wednesday, Bahrain-Victorious general manager Milan Eržen took a calm but firm approach to the matter, telling GCN that the UCI had approved Bahrain-Victorious Rudy Project Windgream HL 85 helmet, and that safety concerns were void given that the manufacturer had complied with all testing requirements.

“Our helmet is by the rules. We sent for approval with the UCI, and we got approval. That’s it," Eržen told GCN.

"I don’t think that our helmet is hugely different from before. We put more visibility in so that the guys can race more with their heads down. They can now see a bit better on the road. I don’t think we’re in the same position as some of the other companies. Our helmet is just a normal helmet but maybe a little bit bigger.

"We sent everything to the UCI, we got the approval because otherwise, we wouldn’t use the helmet. Approval came about maybe 10 days ago. Rudy Project, not us, went through all the procedures, the crash test and everything. There’s no way we would race with a helmet that’s not been through the tests,” he added.

Read more: Bahrain Victorious debut unreleased Rudy Project ‘Wingdream’

Eržen also stressed that rider safety was paramount for his team and athletes and that Bahrain-Victorious would not have violated the UCI’s rules by using unapproved kit.

“It’s the most important thing, and we take care of the riders. The UCI approved the helmet and we’ll carry on using it in the next time trials. I’m 100 per cent sure that the helmet from Visma was also approved," he told GCN.

"There’s no chance someone would risk using a helmet that’s not been approved. No team, no company, and no general manager would risk this."

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