The Dutch team Visma | Lease a Bike presented their new time trial helmets on Monday during the time trial at the start of Tirreno-Adriatico 2024. The model from the manufacturer Giro is definitely an eye-catcher with its unusual design, which is more reminiscent of an astronaut helmet than a cycling helmet.
Time trial helmets from Visma | Lease a Bike: Huge visor
Giro's helmet is unique, primarily due to its massive visor, which is positioned at a large distance from the head, and its protruding sides. Mathieu Heijboer, Head of Performance at Visma | Lease a Bike, told us that "at least a year" was spent working on the new head protection. NOS. It is not yet possible to say how good the helmet is aerodynamically. Heijboer believes that it is faster than other makes: "It goes without saying that it has an advantage. Anyone who is familiar with design and aerodynamics will also understand that."
New helmet from Vingegaard & Co. causes discussion on social media
The new helmet from Visma | Lease a Bike caused a lot of discussion on social media due to its design.
Thomas De Gendt from Lotto-Dstny wrote at X"I'm not saying that time trial helmets are ugly. I'm just saying that it's a good time to stop cycling."
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Sam Welsford from Bora-Hansgrohe: "I'm quitting"
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Daniel Lloyd (ex-professional and journalist): "Dear UCI, I never thought I'd say this, but I WANT you to ban something. And maybe hire a director of aesthetics to save our sport."
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Even the Tirreno-Adriatico X account couldn't resist commenting:
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Vingegaard ninth in time trial at Tirreno-Adriatico
The riders of Visma | Lease a Bike are also said to have joked about the design during the test phase of the Giro helmet. "We tested it extensively during the winter. Every time we took the helmet out of the bag, the riders said: 'Do you really want me to ride with this? The test results are said to have convinced them and there was a consensus: "Okay, I'll take it."
The helmets were unable to achieve a ground-breaking success in their first race. Vingegaard finished as his team's best rider in ninth place, 22 seconds behind the day's winner Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates).
