POC releases limited-edition Ventral Air helmet in homage to Alison Jackson’s 2023 Paris-Roubaix win

POC has released a limited-edition version of its Ventral Air helmet to celebrate Alison Jackson’s victory at the 2023 edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes, with Friday's release falling on the one-year anniversary of the Canadian’s win.

Jackson was a surprise winner of the third edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes, triumphing from a breakaway. While the victory was enough to catch the headlines, her finish line celebrations also garnered plenty of attention, as she displayed what POC has described as a “refreshing and distinctive attitude to professional cycling”.

It is this personality that is celebrated as much as the victory on the new helmet, which sports the colours of Jackson’s EF Education-Cannondale team. On first appearances, it appears that it is actually no different to a standard team-edition helmet, and that’s because it essentially isn’t.

Rather than decorate the helmet with special decals, POC has instead provided a separate decal pack with designs inspired by Jackson’s “creative approach to racing”. These can be stuck to the helmet to create a bespoke design, unique to each rider. Among the decals are quotes from Jackson, along with other graphics.

© POC

The helmet has decals that can be used to create a custom design

“The helmet symbolizes what I think is important: having fun on a bike and having fun off it, and using that attitude in a great team to create a winning formula,” Jackson said of the helmet released in her honour. “Watch out, there is still more action to come from women's cycling!”

Read more: Embracing the history of Paris-Roubaix: Alison Jackson claims a space for women

As you may expect from a Paris-Roubaix-homage-paying lid, the Ventral Air MIPS is one of POC’s performance helmets, but with a slight twist. Aerodynamics is still key to the design, but POC has also placed emphasis on ventilation. That’s pretty clear on appearances, as the helmet sports more ventilation holes than an outright aero lid.

However, the ventilation and aerodynamic profile don’t work independently, but hand in hand to create a high-performing helmet that is favoured by many riders in POC-sponsored teams.

“Watching Alison’s victory last year was inspiring," Sofie Tenmark, head of special projects at POC, said. "Apart from winning a monument, it brought to light her unique attitude towards the team and professional cycling in general. It’s an approach, coupled with her open, lighthearted, Canadian outlook, that we wanted to celebrate, which is why it’s a helmet full of her quotes and Canadian character.”

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