Visma-Lease a Bike defend Giro helmet in face of UCI’s ‘in-depth analysis’

Visma-Lease a Bike’s Giro Aerohead II helmet continues to make headlines with the Dutch team defending the use of the controversial kit following a UCI announcement of an ‘in-depth analysis’ over several new helmets that were used in time trials this week.

The team believes that there is a strong likelihood that the UCI will ban the new helmet in the future but has stated that the governing body is “driven by emotions and all the reactions on social media".

According to the team’s performance manager Mathieu Heijboer: “The rules regarding dimensions and safety were drawn up a year ago. We and the helmet manufacturer Giro started working within those frameworks.”

“It's quite striking that this statement has now come out,” Heijboer told AD concerning the UCI’s statement.

“It is driven by emotions and all the reactions on social media. Pranksters on the internet, I have no problem with that at all. But if the UCI has a problem with the design, they should have indicated this when the helmet was submitted for approval.”

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

Just hours after the UCI announced their “in-depth analysis of the regulations governing the design and use of time trial helmets”, Visma-Lease a Bike released a formal statement on their website in which they stressed that their new Giro Aerohead II complied with the governing body’s regulations and that they would continue to use the product throughout the season.

Both the team’s and the UCI’s statements stem from Monday’s reveal of a new Giro time trial helmet that was used by Visma-Lease a Bike at Tirreno-Adriatico. The new piece of kit made headlines due to its unique design and size, with Jonas Vingegaard and his teammates using the helmet during the opening time trial in Italy.

The helmet was on show during the team time trial at Paris-Nice on Tuesday too, and during the stage, the UCI released a statement that appeared to round on several brands that had tested the governing body’s patience.

First up, they banned Specialized's head sock from 2 April onwards, while also issuing warnings for Visma-Lease a Bike and Bahrain Victorious for the latter team’s use of a Rudy Project Windgream HL 85 helmet.

© Getty Images

Bahrain Victorious also used a new Rudy helmet at Tirreno-Adriatico

The governing body were also concerned with the use of the POC Tempor helmet used by several teams, but Visma-Lease a Bike were the first to respond to the news with a statement posted on their team website. For reference, the POC Tempor helmet was first used during the London Olympic Games in 2012.

“First and foremost, the Giro Aerohead ll is a safe helmet, meeting all safety regulations,” Visma’s formal statement said.

“Safety for our riders is paramount for both Giro and the team. For example, this helmet has a larger visor that allows riders to have better visibility. And MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) provides even better protection. Giro Sport Design developed the Aerohead II to meet all impact test requirements and safety certifications, which applies to all helmets ridden in competition.”

The Dutch team also stressed that the new kit was within the UCI’s own rules and guidelines. 

“In addition, Team Visma | Lease a Bike, in collaboration with Giro, has also put a lot of time, money and energy into further aerodynamic development, within the frameworks set by the UCI. Team Visma | Lease a Bike is looking forward to the next time trials and is confident to continue using the Giro Aerohead ll this season and in the future.”

The next time trial in which the helmet could be used in competition is at the Itzulia Basque Country on 1 April, and given how long it took the UCI to take action against the Specialized head sock, it’s unlikely that a ruling will be made before then. The UCI statement already admitted that the helmets under scrutiny didn’t contravene their rules but they stressed that there were concerns around safety.

"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," the UCI said.

"In view of the evolution of these situations as well as other problems encountered in recent years, in relation to the requirement for commercial availability, the ban on non-essential components and the shape and size of time trial helmets, the UCI will undertake a review of its rules on the design and use of helmets in competition. By doing so, it wishes to ensure that they set a clear framework that is consistent with the objectives targeted. Any modification to these rules will be communicated rapidly after its adoption by the competent UCI bodies,” the UCI added.

Bahrain Victorious has not commented on their Rudy Project helmet or the UCI’s statement.

AD also asked Heijboer if he thought the new helmet would be banned by the UCI. “That is now an option, yes. We have seen this before with a helmet from Specialized that has been used in World Championships.”