Unreleased POC helmet sees early season success at the hands of EF Education-Cannondale

Select members of the EF Education-Cannondale women’s team have been spotted using an unreleased POC helmet at the recent Trofeo Palma Femina. The new helmet looks to be a hybrid road helmet that is heavily influenced by design cues from the brand's time trial lid.

The new helmet design is reminiscent of the Kask helmet that Ineos Grenadiers have been spotted using this year. Most notable is the same dropped profile that sees the tops of the riders' ears sit inside the shell of the helmet.

With three magnets visible in the brow of the helmet it looks like the brand is trying to incorporate an integrated visor to further increase aerodynamic efficiency.

© Sprint Cycling Agency

The new design see the profile of the helmet extend to cover the tops of riders' ears in the hunt for aero gains

The helmet looks to be cut from the same cloth as POC’s recently released TT helmet, the Procen, with a few alterations to make it more suited to road races.

As mentioned, the profile only covers the tops of riders' ears whereas the Procen comes further down a rider's jaw and covers the entire ear. The rear of the helmet is also stubbier with a more abrupt end. This is likely an attempt to be more aero in a variety of riding positions.

TT helmets only need to be optimised for a static position, whereas, in a road race riders can position themselves in a whole array of positions. It could be that this helmet will be the Procen Road denoting its origins as well as its intended use.

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This new road helmet has the same ventilation structure as the Procen TT helmet with three vents situated at the front. These will channel air around the rider's head before exiting through the rear vent in the tail of the helmet.

Although this is sufficient for short-duration time trials it might struggle to adequately cool a rider's head for a multi-hour road stage. This could be why we are seeing the ear covers being lifted to just cover the tops of riders' ears to increase the surface area exposed to wind flow, without compromising aerodynamics too much.

© Sprint Cycling Agency

The helmet has already been used to great success by EF Education-Cannondale at the recent Trofeo Palma Femina

POC has never been shy of creating waves with its radical design approach. It received plenty of hate from the vanity police when the Tempor TT helmet was released with its sweeping curves and flared profile that smoothed the junction between helmet and rider. POC seem to follow the data when it comes to design, as although the Tempor might not have been winning any fashion awards, it was one of the fastest helmets out there.

As of yet, we have only seen the helmet a handful of times, originally being teased at stage 1 of the Tour Down Under and more recently with the EF Education-Cannondale women’s team at the Trofeo Palma Femina.

What do you make of the new helmet, will you be heading out to buy one as soon as it is available? Let your thoughts be heard in the comments below.