Visma-Lease a Bike's new TT helmets stir debate at Tirreno-Adriatico as Jonas Vingegaard wears new design

Updated 04/03/2024 at 16:43 GMT

Visma-Lease a Bike sported a new helmet design on the first stage of Tirreno-Adriatico - and it caused quite a stir. Eurosport commentator Robbie McEwen said they were "ridiculous" and said they were a "thorn in his eye". Visma-Lease a Bike’s head of rider apparel Paul Mertens said the helmets represented a "new way of thinking" and could provide a "big improvement" for the team.

Vingegaard and Visma-Lease a Bike sport new helmets - that divide opinion

Visma-Lease a Bike’s unusual-looking new time-trial helmets were met with a mixed reaction on the first day of Tirreno-Adriatico.

The team, who won all three Grand Tours last year, debuted their new Giro Aerohead 2.0 helmet on the time trial on the first stage of the race.

The striking oversized helmet is longer than the traditional time-trial helmet and also has a large visor and wide wings.

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The increased visor size could help with visibility when head-down riding - which is often done in time-trialling - while Visma will hope the design also offers aerodynamic benefits.

The sighting of Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard in the helmet caused not only a stir on social media, but also in the Eurosport commentary box.

"There is one thing that is a thorn in my eye, it’s a firm no from me on these helmets," said Eurosport's Robbie McEwen.

"They are ridiculous!”

Explaining the new design, Visma-Lease a Bike’s head of rider apparel Paul Mertens said: “The collaboration with Giro has been without boundaries and we are really happy to show the Aerohead 2.0.

“The appearance is totally different, it’s a new way of thinking about the aero helmet and we really think we have found a big improvement in our whole system in the TTs and hopefully we can show it today.

“It’s always really important for a helmet to be safe but on the other hand it’s part of the system with the riders and equipment so let’s see.”

Vingegaard was third off the ramp on the time trial and his time of 11:46 was soon passed, with Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) finishing in top spot in 11:24.

The two-time Tour winner will be looking to better his second-place finish overall at the race in 2022.

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