tour de france no helmets

2023 Tour de France Helmets Brands and Models Guide

One of the most visible gear the Tour de France riders use is the helmet, besides their bikes and sunglasses . Many brands are known to release new models just in time for the Tour de France to gain maximum publicity. After all, the Tour de France is the pinnacle cycling race of the year.

Each team is provided with three types of helmets ;

• Aero helmets for maximizing aerodynamics and speeds. These are commonly used on flat and sprint finish stages and have minimal air vents to allow the air to flow smoothly through the helmet surface.
• Lightweight helmets are all about weight and breathability and are preferred for hilly and mountainous stages where each gram matters. These helmets have up to 20 air vents for maximum ventilation to cool down the riders.
• Time trial (TT) helmets are only used during time trials . Many models have just a handful of air vents (if any) as the helmet is designed to maximize aerodynamics.

All the helmet models are the brand’s top-of-the-line and/or latest models. Depending on the brands and models, they can cost anywhere from $200 to $400.

In 2023, there will be 16 bike helmet brands present at the Tour de France.

Ekoi (4 teams) and Specialized (3 teams) helmets are the most represented, followed by Abus (2 teams). The notable helmet brands absent are Bell and Giro.

One of the most visible gears at Tour de France 🇫🇷 is the riders' helmets besides their bikes 🚴 and sunglasses 🕶️. But did you know the most popular helmet brand at the race is one that not many know? It's not Giro, Kask or POC. pic.twitter.com/NoEv2AWDEu — Mr. Mamil (@MrMamil) July 2, 2023

2023 Tour de France Bikes and Gear

Tour de France Winning Bikes by Year (1903 to 2023)

2023 Tour de France Sunglasses Brands and Models Guide

2023 Tour de France Bike Brands and Models Guide

Helmet brands and models for each team

Here’s the breakdown of each helmet brand and models used by the teams.

Competitive Cyclist (US) is doing a 20% off POC helmets until the end of the Tour de France (23/7/2023). Find out more here .

2023 Tour de France helmet photos

Tour de France Past Winners

Tour de France Climber’s Classification Winners, 1933-2022

Tour de France Team Classification Winners, 1930-2022

Tour de France Young Rider Classification Winners, 1975-2022

Who Has the Most Tour de France Stage Wins?

Who is the Tour de France Lanterne Rouge?

Who Won the Tour de France Green Jersey?

Who won the Tour de France Yellow Jersey?

Alex Lee is the founder and editor-at-large of Mr. Mamil. Coming from a professional engineering background, he breaks down technical cycling nuances into an easy-to-understand and digestible format here.

He has been riding road bikes actively for the past 12 years and started racing competitively in the senior category during the summer recently.

Mr. Mamil's content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content is not a substitute for official or professional advice. Please do your own due diligence.

Mr. Mamil participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We also participate in various other affiliate programs, and at times we earn a commission through purchases made through links on this website.

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Bike Helmets at Tour de France 2022

Dan matthews.

• Last Updated : July 9, 2022

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It was just not that long ago that helmets were made mandatory in the Tour de France . That year was 2003 where a fatal crash of Andrei Kivilev at the second stage in Paris-Nice prompted the UCI to make helmets mandatory from the next race onwards.

These days all the equipment used by the pros comes under great scrutiny, especially at the Tour de France. Among others is the bike helmets they wear.

The helmet technologies have improved significantly over the years and we now have helmets designed for specific purposes with all the latest safety technologies. For example,

• Regular vs aero helmets. On hilly stages, riders will opt for regular helmets that lighter, have more air vents for better breathability. For flat and sprint stages, many will prefer helmets optimized for aerodynamics that have minimal air vents.
• Safety technologies such as MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) , SPIN (Shearing Pad Inside), Wavecel, and Koroyd can be found in the majority of the helmets the riders wear.
• Color and design. Most teams will have a team color/design for their helmets to match with their kits and bikes. A yellow helmet is worn by every rider of the team that is leading the Team’s Classification (the team that has the lowest cumulative time by adding the times of the three best riders of each team per stage).

For 2022, there 16 helmet brands at the Tour de France. There are three teams each wearing Ekoi and Specialized , helmets followed by two teams each for Abus and HJC helmets. The most notable brand missing out is Bell.

Some of the helmets also make it into our favorite helmet picks list . Let’s take a look at all the helmets used by each team.

German-based Abus is a long-time, reputable brand when it comes to bike locks. A newcomer in the pro peloton, starting with Movistar in 2018, Abus has one of the nicest looking helmets in this year’s Tour de France.

See Mathieu van der Poel will be wearing the Abus Gamechanger on the cobblestone stage 5. 

More info at Abus.

• Helmets Worn :  Abus Aventor Quin (Regular), Abus Gamechanger (Aerodynamic), Abus Gamechanger TT
• Worn by : Alpecin-Fenix, Movistar Team
• Available at : Competitive Cyclist , Amazon , Wiggle

France-based Bolle has been around since 1888 and today manufactures helmets, goggles, and sunglasses for cycling and skiing. They’ve been a mainstay in the pro peloton in recent years with Orica GreenEdge wearing their sunglasses in the past.

More info at Bolle.

• Helmets Worn : Bolle Furo MIPS (Regular), EXO MIPS (Aerodynamic),
• Worn by : B&B Hotels p/b KTM

Bontrager is the sister brand of bike manufacturer, Trek. Bontrager produces everything from helmets to saddles, wheelsets, and bike lights. So, it’s no surprise that Trek-sponsored teams will be using Bontrager equipment such as helmets and wheels (similar to Specialized sponsored teams).

More info at Trek.

• Helmets Worn : Bontrager Velocis MIPS (Regular), Bontrager XXX WaveCel (Aerodynamic)
• Worn by : Trek Segafredo
• Available at : Trek Bikes

Based out of France, Ekoi which was founded in 2001 has grown to be a reputable brand in the cycling clothing market especially with helmets and sunglasses. Their direct-to-consumer model means that Ekoi products are 30% to 40% cheaper than its competitors.

Expect to see Caleb Ewan sprinting to his next Grand Tour win at the Tour de France in the Ekoi AR14 .

• Helmets Worn : Ekoi Legende (Regular), Ekoi AR14 (Aerodynamic), Ekoi Chrono (TT)
• Worn by :  Cofidis, Lotto-Soudal, Team Arkea-Samsic
• Available at : Ekoi

A relatively unknown outside of the mainstream cycling brands, Czech-based Force manufactures a wide range of cycling accessories, clothing, components, and tools. Their products are mainly found in Europe and Central Asia through their growing network of dealers.

More info at Force.

• Helmets Worn : Force Lynx (Regular), Force Neo Orca (Aerodynamic),
• Worn by : Intermarché Wanty Gobert Materiaux

With a long presence in the pro peloton dating back to pre-2000, Giro helmets are used by three teams in this year’s Tour de France. Besides helmets, Giro is an established brand when it comes to cycling shoes.

Riders will have three helmet choices; Giro Aether Spherical (regular), Giro Vanquish (aerodynamic), and Giro Aerohead (TT) helmets to choose from.

Trek-Segafredo riders will be wearing the Giro Aerohead TT helmet for time trials as their helmet provider, Bontrager doesn’t produce a TT helmet.

• Helmets Worn : Giro Aether Spherical (Regular), Giro Vanquish MIPS,(Aerodynamic), Giro Aerohead MIPS (TT)
• Worn by : Groupama-FDJ

Another relative newcomer into the pro peloton, HJC is an established brand among Moto GP riders with a history dating back to 1971. HJC’s helmets feature their patented technologies such as COOLPATH for efficient airflow and cooling and SELFFIT for automatic self-adjustment.

Expect to see Chris Froome riding his tenth Tour de France wearing the HJC Ibex 2.0 in the high mountains.

More info at HJC.

• Helmets Worn : HJC Ibex 2.0 (Regular), HJC Furion 2.0 (Aerodynamic), HJC Adwatt 1.5 (TT)
• Worn by : AG2R Citreon Team, Israel Premier Tech
• Available at :   Wiggle

Kask is worn exclusively by Ineos Grenadiers (Team Sky) since its inception in 2010 and has won the most Grand Tours in the last decade. Undoubtedly, Kask is the most well-known helmet brand within the cycling industry.

The Kask Protone has been a mainstay in their helmet lineup for many years and hasn’t been updated for more than 5 years. Expect to see the Ineos Grenadiers train riding at the front all day long sporting the latest Kask Protone.

• Helmets Worn : Kask Protone, Kask (Regular), Kask Valegro (Lightweight), Kask Utopia (Aerodynamic), Kask Bambino (TT)
• Worn by : Ineos Grenadiers

Belgian helmet manufacturer Lazer is another old-timer in the pro peloton with almost a century of history. They started by designing leather caps for tough men riding over cobblestone in Belgium before evolving into the technically advanced helmets we see today.

Get ready to see Primoz Roglic challenge for the overall win, supported by his trusted lieutenants such as Sepp Kuss and Wout van Aert wearing the Lazer Genesis .

More info at Lazer.

• Helmets Worn : Lazer Genesis (Lightweight), Lazer Bullet 2.0 (Aerodynamic), Lazer Volante (TT)
• Worn by : Team Jumbo Visma
• Available at : Competitive Cyclist , Amazon

Based out of Bergamo in Italy, Limar manufactures a range of helmets for all cycling disciplines from road to gravel, mountain biking, gravel, and kids. The riders will use Limar’s top-of-the-line helmets at the Tour de France this year.

• Helmets Worn : Limar Air Pro (Regular), Limar Air Speed (Aerodynamic), Limar Air King (TT)
• Worn by : Astana-Qazaqstan

One of the fastest-growing helmet brands, MET is based in the Valtellina valley in the Italian Alps. They’re just 100km away from the Stelvio and 20km from Lake Como.

Worn by Tadej Podgacer to his maiden Tour de France win in 2020, MET will continue with the UAE Team Emirates for this year. Expect to see Tadej Podgacer wearing the MET Trenda 3K Carbon helmet on the hilly stages.

More info at MET.

• Helmets Worn : MET Trenda 3K Carbon (Regular), MET Manta MIPS (Aerodynamic), MET Codatronca (TT)
• Worn by : UAE Team Emirates
• Available at : Wiggle

Swedish-based, POC designed one of the most good-looking bike helmets in the pro peloton today. They’re also the inventor of SPIN (Shearing Pad Inside) safety technology which is used in their helmets. You’ll spot a light blue liner inside all POC helmets today.

With the pink POC Ventral SPIN Air helmets, you definitely can’t miss them on TV.

More info at POC.

• Helmets Worn : POC Ventral SPIN Air (Regular), POC Ventral SPIN (Aerodynamic), POC Cerebel (TT)
• Worn by : EF Education Nippo

Rudy Project

Started in 1985 in Italy, Rudy Project is a leading brand in outdoor accessories. They make helmets and sunglasses for various sports such as cycling, running, beach, winter, and watersports.

More info at Rudy Project.

• Helmets Worn : Rudy Project Spectrum (Regular), Rudy Project Volantis (Aerodynamic), Rudy Project The Wing (TT)
• Worn by : Bahrain Victorious

Scott helmets are worn by Scott-sponsored teams, similar to Trek and Specialized teams. Known for its bikes, Scott also manufactures bike components such as wheels, handlebars, and saddles under its sister brand Syncros.

More info at Scott.

• Helmets Worn : Scott Centric Plus MIPS (Regular), Scott Cadence Plus (Aerodynamic)
• Worn by : Team DSM

Specialized

Specialized helmets are worn exclusively by Specialized sponsored teams in recent years. From our observation, if the team is riding a Specialized bike, they will be using Specialized’s other equipment such as wheels (Roval), tires, helmets, and shoes.

Get ready to see fireworks animated by current Road World Champion Julian Alaphilippe in the S-Works Prevail 2 and 3X  champion Peter Sagan in the S-Works Evade .

• Helmets Worn : S-Works Prevail 2 (Regular), S-Works Evade (Aerodynamic), S-Works TT
• Worn by : BORA Hansgrohe, QuickStep Alpha Vinyl Team, Total Energies
• Available at : Competitive Cyclist , Jenson USA

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Clothing / Helmets / News

EKOI and Pininfarina unveil the Aerodinamica helmet

EKOI unveils the first cycling helmet designed by Pininfarina.

In 1936, Battista Pinin Farina designed one of his first aerodynamic vehicles: the Lancia Aprilia Aerodinamica. Eighty-seven years later and the famous design house drafts its first cycling helmet in partnership with EKOI. The EKOI Aerodinamica helmet will be used in this year’s Tour de France by four teams; Cofidis , Israel-Premier Tech , Lotto Dstny and Team Arkea-Samsic . That makes EKOI helmets the most popular in the peloton.

EKOI said that their engineers worked with Pininfarina’s designers to produce a helmet that made “made no concessions between elegance and performance” : no small task. The shape of the helmet was refined at Pininfarina’s legendary wind tunnel along with choice of racing colours and the incorporation of the latest safety innovations.

Meanwhile on the safety side the EKOI say the Aerodinamica will be the only helmet using Koroyd technology in the UCI WorldTour. The helmet uses four inserts of Koroyd, which consists of a honeycomb structure of long, thin tubes heat-welded together. The tubes’ thin walls collapse evenly in the event of impact, absorbing the impact’s energy on the helmet. Koroyd’s honeycomb structure means that as well as being light-weight it allows air to circulate, keeping you cool.

Tested by the pros!

The EKOI Aerodinamica was tested during its development phase by pro riders Giacomo Nizzolo and Caleb Ewan. They took it to wins in the Tro Bro Léon and the Van Merksteijn Fences Classic respectively. In EKOi’s promotional video Ewan describes how important aerodynamics are when sprinting at 70Kmh: speeds most of us will only approach on a long down-hill! However it’s good to know that at our reduced speeds we’ll be able to make use of Pininfarina’s styling.

No date has been given for the release of the new Aerodinamica helmet, we can assume it will be post-Tour. While Tour de France riders can use the Aerodinamica some – like stage 2 winner Victor Lafay – are still using EKOI’s AR14 and AR15 helmets. The latter takes an interesting approach to aero, with magnetic clip-on side panels, allowing the rider to choose between aero or cooling benefits. We’ll try and get our hands on one of these new helmets and let you know how they perform. We have previously tested EKOI’s Corsa helmet, read the review here .

Technical specifications of the EKOI Aerodinamica helmet

High level of protection thanks to Koroyd® technology (+48% energy absorption compared to standard EPS)

First cycling helmet in the world to be designed by Pininfarina

Developed in a wind tunnel to minimize its drag ratio (CX)

Modular design: 100% aero closed helmet / 100% comfort and airflow open helmet.

Fidlock® magnetic buckle: intuitive single-handed adjustment to open and close the chinstrap

ATOP® wheel: micrometric adjustment of occipital support

Adjustable straps with lateral V-shaped adjustment buckles under the ears

Koroyd® protection: 2 side inserts and 2 front inserts

CE / CPSC / AS NZ / UKCA certifications

Helmet available in two colour options: white-red and black

Price : 249,99 euros

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Unreleased Giro Vanquish, new Lazer Bullet highlight Tour de France helmets

All WorldTour teams have choices of traditional and aero road helmets

Ben Delaney / Immediate Media

Ben Delaney

A new Giro Vanquish aero road helmet popped up at the Tour de France, as did the adjustable Bullet helmet Lazer showed at Eurobike. Kask announced a new Valegro helmet, but Team Sky stuck with their Protone model for stage 2. Here is a look at many of the helmets of the 2017 Tour de France.

• Lazer’s Bullet road helmet offers adjustable aero on the move
• Historic first: A double-disc Tour de France time trial bike
• Tour de France bikes, gear and tech

Giro Vanquish aero road helmet

Giro gets credit for kicking off the aero road helmet trend five years ago with its Air Attack . While its bowling-ball shape drew mixed reactions, riders and and other helmet brands took notice, and today aero road helmets are very much a thing.

The new Vanquish is being worn by Katusha-Alpecin and BMC Racing at the Tour. Compared to the round Air Attack, the Vanquish is considerably more elongated, similar to Trek's Ballista or Specialized's Evade.

The Vanquish features heavily sculpted internal air channels, and huge ports at the rear. The big rear center ports in particular are a departure from the Air Attack.

Giro declined to answer any questions about the Vanquish.

Lazer Bullet adjustable aero road helmet

The Belgian brand Lazer was purchased by Shimano not long ago. For aero helmets, Lazer had the Aeroshell and then removable covers for some of its standard high-end helmets like the Z1.

The Bullet was shown at Eurobike in the fall. A panel in the Bullet's center slides back to open a vent at the forehead and also tilt open Venetian-blind-like slats higher up on the helmet. It is somewhat similar to the Star Pro that Bell launched in 2014.

All of the Belgian squad Lotto-Soudal and some of the LottoNL-Jumbo squad raced the helmet on stage 2 of the Tour.

Kask Valegro lightweight road helmet announced

Team Sky raced in yellow Kask Protones as best placed team in the general classification. (Sky's Vasil Kiryienka wore a green Protone as he held the race's first sprinter's jersey.) But the helmet company on Sunday announced a new race helmet called the Valegro that it said Team Sky will use during the race.

The Valegro is designed for ventilation and light weight. It has 36 vents and Kask claims it has minimal pad-to-head contact.

Kask claims the Valegro weighs 180g (in an unspecified size).

Kask says the Valegro will be available for sale this December.

Bontrager Velocis gets BOA dial, MIPS liner

Trek just announced a reworking of its Velocis road helmet, which is little more aero than its predecessor, but most notably get a BOA adjustment dial — a first for Bontrager — and a MIPS liner, another first for the brand in high-end road lids.

The helmet did get 20g heavier than the previous one, but Bontrager said the new one is getting close to the company's Ballista in terms of aero performance.

Aero and ventilated choices abound

While some helmet companies may have laughed at Giro's Air Attack years ago, aero road helmets abound today. At the 2017 Tour de France, riders from all the WorldTour teams have a choice between a lightweight helmet and an aero model from their various sponsors.

Click through the gallery above for a look at Tour de France helmets from MET, Specialized, Bontrager, Kask, Lazer, Abus, BBB and more.

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POC and Giro roll out new helmets to commemorate the 2023 Tour de France

Limited-edition versions of the poc ventral air helmet for team ef and giro aries helmet for team canyon-sram commemorate july's big races..

Don't miss a moment of the 2024 Tour de France! Get recaps, insights, and exclusive takes with Velo's daily newsletter. >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Sign up today! .

Ahead of the 2023 Tour de France , POC and Giro respectively have released a pair of special-edition helmets.

The two helmets aim to allow mere mortals among us to emulate our favorite riders on Team EF Education First-EasyPost or Team Canyon-SRAM Racing with what might just be the two most distinctive kits in the men’s and women’s pro pelotons.

POC Ventral Air EF Education First-EasyPost edition helmet

The POC Ventral Air helmet in EF’s characteristic pink hues is highly distinctive, and now they’re available for purchase. POC says the helmet presents the classic pink the team uses alongside different shades that are a nod to the past, present, and future of EF Education-EasyPost. There’s also a hint of argyle print for good measure.

Helmets are based around the POC Ventral Air Mips helmet. Key changes include color-matched helmet straps and a pinked-out retention system.

MSRP for the POC Ventral Air Mips EF Education First-EasyPost is $280/$360 CAD/€300/£270

See more at pocsports.com .

Giro Aries Canyon-SRAM Racing Spherical helmet

Canyon-SRAM has one of the most distinctive kits in the peloton with a maximalist design that stands apart from other tamer kits in the Women’s World Tour. This limited edition Giro Aries Canyon-SRAM team helmet takes that infamous kit and offers it to the masses.

Helmets are based on the Giro Aries Spherical helmet that the brand calls “its best-ever road helmet.” The helmet straps and retention system are flat black, but both layers of the helmet feature the colorful, bold coloring that carries to the team’s kits and bikes.

MSRP for the Giro Aries Spherical Canyon-SRAM Racing helmet is $300 US/€320/£289.99.

See more at giro.com .

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The Tour de France time trial helmets we'll never forget

There were several new aerodynamic lids on display in Copenhagen. We take a closer look at the most striking ones

Words: Nick Busca

Photos: Getty Images

Time trials. The races where Grand Tours are won and lost, where leader's jerseys are first given – and where aero gains materialise in all forms and shapes.

Stage one of the 2022 Tour de France was no exception. On top of the colourful EF-Education Easy Post kit and bikes , the 13km time trial in Copenhagen will also be remembered for riders forgetting to take their gilets off (we're looking at you, Geraint) and the slippery conditions.

Related: Tour de France bikes. Geraint Thomas' new Pinarello Bolide F TT

But, of course, we'll also remember a series of new, flashy helmets that have caused quite a stir on social media and generated some pretty good memes.

Specialized S-Works TT 5

T he American superbrand presented its new TT helmet as "The Fastest Aero Helmet" they're ever made – a speed dream developed in the wind tunnel (Specialized's called the Win Tunnel) with Remco Evenepoel and Kasper Asgreen from Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl.

Related: Tour de France 2022. All you need to know

Finally, the visor used in this model features a Class 1 shield that limits light distortion, something that may happen with other clear plastic lenses. The shield is also treated with hydrophobic and anti-fog coatings that help clear moisture when the weather is bad – like in Copenhagen.

Related: Tour de France prize money. How much does the winner receive?

A Specialized rider won stage one of the Tour in the end, but it's also fair to point out that Yves Lampaert of Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl was using the older lid.

New Kask Bambino and Mistral visor

Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, Bora-Hansgrohe and TotalEnergies were not the only teams rocking some Star Wars-like helmets in Copenhagen. The Ineos Grenadiers also showed up with a new model or – to be precise – a new optic system for their Bambino and Mistral helmets. 

Related: How fit are Tour de France riders?

However, we're sure that the sizes were correct and safety was their number one priority, and that the look was just the result of the new system.

Same same, but different

Of course, the POC Tempor used by EF Education-Easy Post is nothing new and has already proved an excellent choice in time trialling and triathlons.

Related: From ducks to dragons. EF Education partners up with Palace Skateboards once again

But given the new colour scheme featuring yellow dragons, we had to include it in the "helmets you're going to remember" round-up.

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Team Cars | Service Des Courses - Organic Unisex T-shirt

Rouleur Team Cars Bone China Mugs

Rouleur ELITE Jet Water Bottle Bidon - 550ml

Rouleur Logo Organic Unisex T-Shirt - Black/White

Rouleur Logo Organic Unisex T-Shirt – White

Team Cars | Campagnolo - Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt

Team Cars | Peugeot - Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt

Rouleur Logo - Organic Sweatshirt - Unisex - Burgundy

Colours of the Peloton - Short Sleeve Base Layer - Men's

Rouleur Logo Organic Unisex T-Shirt – Tonal Grey

Team Cars | Raleigh - Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt

Rouleur Logo Organic Sweatshirt - Unisex - Grey

Coppi - Rouleur Notebook

Rouleur Logo - Organic Sweatshirt - Unisex - French Navy

Rouleur Logo - Organic Jogger Pants - Unisex - French Navy

Rouleur Logo - Organic Hooded Sweatshirt - Unisex - Heather Blue

Rouleur x Kaweco Rollerball Pen - Black + Gold foil logo

Allez - Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt

Dai! - Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt

Tours Issue - Rouleur Tote Bag

True Grit - Rouleur Notebook

Rouleur Water Bottle Bidon - Ride Fast, Read Slow - Cream + Green

Rouleur Embroidered Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt - Natural Cotton + Green

Rouleur Water Bottle Bidon - Green + Pink

Rouleur x Kaweco Rollerball Pen - Brass + Black etched logo

!Vamos! - Organic Cotton Unisex T-Shirt

Colours of the Peloton - Short Sleeve Jersey - Women's

Rouleur Logo Women's T-Shirt - Navy

Rouleur x Kaweco Aluminium Rollerball Pen - Silver + Engraved logo

Rivalries, crashes and meltdowns: Tour de France storylines to watch

Imagine speeding down a winding mountain road going 60 mph, protected by little more than carbon, spandex and a helmet, surrounded by nearly 200 competitors as thousands of stunned onlookers shout and jeer. 

Now, imagine doing that for six hours a day for three weeks, with just two rest days to gather enough strength and wits to keep going.

Welcome to the Tour de France, the most elite bicycle race in the world and perhaps the most grueling endurance challenge undertaken by professional athletes.

For the first time in the race’s 111-year history, the Tour de France will begin in Italy and end somewhere other than in Paris, which is hosting the Summer Olympics . Cyclists will traverse nearly 2,200 miles of stunning European landscapes, departing from Florence on Saturday and snaking up to the Pyrenees Mountains, through the Alps and down to the Mediterranean Sea. It will conclude in Nice on July 21. 

It’s no secret that while the Tour de France draws tens of millions of viewers worldwide every year, American audiences have largely overlooked professional cycling after Lance Armstrong’s very public professional demise. 

In 2012, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency accused Armstrong’s seemingly untouchable team of running “the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen.”

Armstrong, who won seven Tours after having cancer, vehemently denied the allegations for years until he confessed in a 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey. His downfall culminated when the Union Cycliste Internationale, professional cycling’s governing body, stripped him of all seven Tour de France victories. 

After years of disinterest, American viewership may be on the rebound, thanks, in part, to the release of “Unchained,” a Netflix show by the production team behind the blockbuster “Drive to Survive” docuseries, which focuses on Formula 1 racing. “Unchained” goes behind the scenes of cycling’s biggest rivalries, capturing in vivid detail the commitment, sacrifice and zeal needed to conquer the Tour de France. Think violent crashes, uncontrollable sobbing and inter-team mudslinging.  

With so much drama surrounding professional cycling’s biggest race, here are a few storylines to watch in the coming Tour de France.

Jonas v. Tadej 

This year’s biggest showdown will be a tiebreaker for the ages. Jonas Vingegaard, the Danish superpower leading team Visma-Lease a Bike, will return to defend the yellow jersey after he won the Tour de France in 2022 and last year. But Tadej Pogačar, a Slovenian wunderkind riding for UAE Team Emirates, has a score to settle. He took home the yellow jersey in 2020 and 2021, and this year he obliterated competitors in the spring classics and in Italy’s grand tour, the Giro d’Italia. 

Vingegaard heads to Florence with a major disadvantage after he was hospitalized for nearly two weeks with a collapsed lung, a broken collarbone and broken ribs in April during the Tour of Basque Country. He spent much of the spring recovering from the horrific crash and training at altitude with teammate Wout Van Aert, who was injured in a separate crash. 

Complicating matters is the recently announced departure of American cyclist Sepp Kuss from Visma’s Tour de France lineup. He shepherded team Visma to three grand tour victories last year. But Tuesday, Visma announced Kuss has Covid and won’t ride in the Tour. 

Setting a Tour record 

Will Mark Cavendish beat the record for most stage wins at the Tour de France? With 34 victories behind him, Cavendish, the Astana Qazaqstan Team sprinter, remains tied with the great Eddy Merckx. He planned to smash that record last year and retire from professional cycling, but he crashed out of the Tour before he achieved his dream. Now 39 years old, Cavendish will head to Florence with that one goal in mind.

But he has fierce competition by the name of Jasper Philipsen of team Alpecin-Deceuninck. Philipsen, of Belgium, emerged last year as the peloton’s top sprinter, winning four stages with the help of teammate Mathieu van der Poel, also known as the Flying Dutchman. 

Combined, Philipsen and van der Poel are perhaps the most formidable pair and perhaps the most controversial. Philipsen’s aggressive tactics, including trying to block other riders, repeatedly came under question last year, triggering reviews by race officials and drawing criticism from viewers and pundits alike. Race officials ultimately ruled in favor of Philipsen, but his reputation had been sullied by the end of the Tour.

Evenepoel debut 

Soudal Quick-Step’s Remco Evenepoel will chase a podium finish in his Tour de France debut. But at 24 years old, Evenepoel remains untested at the grand Tour, and he has suffered several setbacks in recent months. 

Evenepoel, the two-time world champion from Belgium, broke his collarbone and a shoulder blade at the Tour of Basque Country in the crash that took out Vingegaard. He crashed again this month at the Critérium du Dauphiné. He quickly recovered and went on to conquer the time trial, but he ultimately lost the top spot to Slovenian cyclist Primož Roglič, who is also gunning for the yellow jersey at the Tour de France. 

In his latest setback, Evenepoel was forced to bow out of the Belgian National Championships after he came down with a cold. He has less than a week to recover before he tackles the Tour de France.

Roglič vengeance 

Whether Roglič can beat former teammate Vingegaard and win his first Tour de France will be one of the best storylines to watch. 

Roglič, who rode on team Visma for five seasons, is no stranger to first place. He won the Vuelta a España three years in a row, from 2019 to 2021, and he took first at the Giro d’Italia last year. In 2020, he came in second at the Tour de France but lost to fellow Slovenian Pogačar. 

Last year, Roglič sought a second win at the Vuelta a España, but he was pressured to back up his then-teammate Kuss. The unexpected change frustrated the already ornery Roglič, and soon afterward he announced he would leave Visma. Now with team BORA-hansgrohe, Roglič will face off against both Vingegaard and Pogačar at the Tour.

Doping problems

Professional cycling can’t seem to shake the shadow of doping more than a decade after Armstrong confessed to cheating.

Vingegaard’s jaw-dropping time trial last year, when he beat Pogačar by 98 seconds, set tongues wagging. His performance was almost too good, triggering rumblings inside and outside the peloton that he might have used performance-enhancing drugs. Vingegaard, who tested negative several times throughout the 2023 season, denied cheating and said he welcomed the tests to help prove his innocence.

This year, two cyclists have been disciplined for using prohibited substances. In May, Colombian cyclist Miguel Ángel López was banned for four years in an investigation led by Spanish authorities concerning a doctor who worked in the sport. The UCI anti-doping tribunal found him guilty of using and possessing menotropins, a female fertility drug that can stimulate production of testosterone in men. 

Last week, Italian cyclist Andrea Piccolo was dropped by his team, EF Education-EasyPost, on suspicion of transporting human growth hormone. His dismissal was all the more shocking given that his team manager, Jonathan Vaughters, had confessed to doping during his tenure as a professional cyclist riding on Armstrong’s team. 

Alicia Victoria Lozano is a California-based reporter for NBC News focusing on climate change, wildfires and the changing politics of drug laws.

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The Latest Cycling Controversy Involves This Crazy Helmet

Tour de France team Visma–Lease a Bike debuted the Giro Aerohead II this week, and the massive helmet generated an impressive tonnage of online discourse

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God Bless professional cycling for producing goofy and hilarious controversies.

In 2023, we had the kerfuffle involving a blown pee stop , as well as an accusation of beer drinking during the Tour de France lobbed at French riders. The latest squabble involves a bike helmet that Darth Vader might wear to a space disco.

On Monday, Dutch cycling team Visma–Lease a Bike unveiled a radical new helmet design at Italy’s Tirreno-Adriatico race, a warmup event for stars of the Tour de France. The helmet, called the Giro Aerohead II, looks pretty weird, right? I suggest analyzing the thing from multiple angles to properly bask in its garish and deranged glory. It’s as if the nose cone from a Boeing 747 and the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile met on Tinder and, well, you get the rest of the joke.

🇮🇹 #TirrenoAdriatico Recon time. 👀 Excited to use our brand new innovative Giro helmets for the first time. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/B7uj77Iwq9 — Team Visma | Lease a Bike (@vismaleaseabike) March 4, 2024

The Aerohead II represents the latest feat of bike-industry engineering aimed at attaining an aerodynamic advantage during road cycling’s individual time trial—yes, the feared race against the clock. In these painful events, cyclists pedal by themselves over flats, hills, and descents, and often the margin of victory is determined by whomever has the most aerodynamic gear and gizmos.

Cycling has a long history of goofy time trial helmets designed to cheat the wind, and I could write thousands of words about the zany designs of yesteryear. Back in the days of Lance Armstrong, aero helmets were little more than sleek, paper-thin plastic fairings that offered zero skull protection in the case of a crash. But over the years, the Union Cycliste International (UCI), the sport’s governing body, passed rules requiring the helmets to pass safety tests—you know, so they actually protect a bike racer’s brain. To meet these benchmarks, helmet manufacturers were forced to create wider and more bulbous models with all manners of aerodynamic innovations, such as golf ball-like dimples , skull-cooling vents , and in the case of the Specialized TT5 helmet, an unfortunate elastic face sock .

The Aerohead II is simply the latest and not-so-greatest product berthed by the aero arms race, and boy did it ruffle feathers. Photos of the helmets quickly circulated on social media, and within a few hours the meme brigade did its thing, comparing the Visma–Lease a Bike riders to Dark Helmet from the 1987 comedy Spaceballs and other helmet-wearing figures from popular culture.

“My brains are going in to my feet” ludicrous speed. Jumbo Visma Lease a Bike pic.twitter.com/ebJXgtGyWs — Alastair Maher (@alastairmaher) March 5, 2024

❗️Team Visma | Lease a Bike reveal 2025 helmet prototype pic.twitter.com/WbNu1x63dH — Rúben Silva (@EchelonsHub) March 4, 2024

Team Visma – Lease a Bike in de Tour van 2026. pic.twitter.com/5UXOPMRIgo — John den Braber OLY (@JohndenBraber) March 5, 2024

📸 Van 'helm voor kratje pils' (Zonneveld) tot 'Urbanus-kopie': iedereen besprak nieuwe helm Visma | Lease a Bike https://t.co/YYpzxijl34 — In de Leiderstrui (@IndeLeiderstrui) March 5, 2024

The memes, of course, were followed by the takes—mostly negative. It sucks! It’s ugly! But a lot of the opposition was followed by an important caveat— maybe the Aerohead II is faster than the other helmets out there . Visma–Lease a Bike is the most dominant team in cycling at the moment, having won the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España in 2023. The squad employs an army of coaches, trainers, and gear specialists. Armchair experts wondered: would the team really approve of a weird helmet if it wasn’t faster than the others? In total, the hubbub around the Aerohead II produced an impressive tonnage of online discourse. Late in the day my  father—who is as casual a cycling fan as they come—texted me with a photo of the helmet. What the hell is this thing?

There are times when any attention is good attention, and for pro cycling, early March is one of those periods. Nobody outside of the inner circle of hardcore cycling nerds cares about Tirreno-Adriatico, yet the Aerohead II got at least a few casual cycling fans to talk about bike racing in late winter. I wondered to myself how the wider world would react to the strange helmet this July, when Visma–Lease a Bike riders wore it at the Tour de France.

But that’s unlikely to happen. On Tuesday, the UCI issued a statement saying that aerodynamic helmets like the Aerohead II had pushed the boundaries of acceptable design, and that the agency would review its own standards for helmets. “The Aerohead II… 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 statement said. The release also said that the Specialized face sock was now banned—which, let’s be honest, is for the best.

On Wednesday, Visma–Lease a Bike pushed back against the UCI, stating that team officials had worked with Giro for more than a year to create the Aerohead II to meet the governing body’s standards on helmet dimensions and impact resistance. “It is quite striking that this statement has now come,” Mathieu Heijboer, the team’s head of performance, told Dutch news outlet AD .  “It’s driven by emotions and all the reactions on social media. I have no problem with jokers on the Internet. But if the UCI has a problem with the design, they should have indicated this when the helmet was submitted for approval.”

"Napoleon", "Alien", "Darth Vader" and "Donald Duck" enter a bar in France. #ParisNice https://t.co/hdCYJqv2WP — Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) March 5, 2024

Anyone who follows pro cycling knows what is about to happen: the UCI will likely ban the Aerohead II and probably a few other helmets from competition. You see, in addition to enforcing the rules of fair play, the UCI acts as the sartorial overlord for pro cycling, and over the years it has prohibited products and outfits that violate the style sensibilities of pro cycling’s cultural history. For instance, there are rules that govern the height of a rider’s socks, and ones that govern the fabric that can be used for bike jerseys. The bike itself is governed by a whole set of regulations that oversee everything from the angle of a bike’s handlebars, to the shape of the tubing used for frames. These regulations prevent the sport’s look and feel from evolving too far from that of the olden days, when riders puffed on cigarettes and swilled wine during major races.

I’ve covered pro cycling since 2004, and my guess is the Aerohead II is toast. Anyone who followed the ordeal play out on social media this week likely just witnessed the shortest lifespan of a piece of cycling gear in history. I assume the Aerohead II will soon fade into cycling lore alongside other banned items, like the Cinelli Spinaci handlebar extensions, or the weird Old Faithful bicycle ridden by Scottish racer Graeme Obree, or Spinergy Rev X wheels .

But hey, we’ll always have the memes.

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'When you see how fast it is, you won't laugh anymore' – Jonas Vingegaard defends wild new time trial helmet

Visma-Lease a Bike's new Giro Aerohead II time trial helmet has dominated social media since it broke cover yesterday

On a day when some of the WorldTour’s most keenly observed Grand Tour contenders were showing their early season form at Tirreno-Adriatico and Paris-Nice , it was striking that on Monday the majority of the cycling world’s attention was instead focused on what a handful of riders were wearing.

Visma-Lease a Bike showcased a hitherto unreleased Giro time trial helmet , named Aerohead II, which was so radical that the Cyclingnews tech team spent some time debating whether it was an AI-generated prank. After the initial wave of social media attention, though, more details have emerged about the highly enigmatic helmet.

"It's it's a very, very good helmet," team leader Jonas Vingegaard said after the finish. "I think it's very, very fast."

"We worked on it a lot in the last year," he added. "It's different, of course, but yeah, I mean, it's very fast. And I think that will be the future."

Tirreno-Adriatico – Everything you need to know Jonas Vingegaard's bike – an in-depth look Tirreno-Adriatico: Juan Ayuso storms to opening time trial victory, takes first leader's jersey Just when we thought TT helmets couldn't get any weirder: Giro leaves us speechless

The helmet comes in the wake of years of dramatic time trial helmet designs, with the Specialized TT5 , Sweet Protection Redeemer 2Vi , and POC Tempor all drawing attention over the last few seasons. However, Giro’s new Aerohead II has seen a far more dramatic reception.

The aesthetics no doubt have played the biggest part in this, with the tall visor marking a stark departure from any time trial helmet we have seen in the past.

Vingegaard was quick to dismiss the aesthetic criticism of the helmet, though.

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"The thing in recent years, cycling has been going more, more and more away from aesthetics," Vingegaard said to Cyclingnews . "So yeah, this was just the next step. And there will be another step in the future as well."

One advantage of the Aerohead II's radical design is visibility, he said. "The visibility is better than previous helmets," Vingegaard said, arguing that with many time trial helmets, "You can't really see. But this one is like you have the whole [field of view]."

Comfort has also been an advantage with Vingegaard praising it as "more comfortable than other time trial helmets that I tried." He added, "Other ones are pushing a lot of places on the head. And this one is very comfortable."

According to Giro the helmet has seen considerable wind tunnel testing, and the name is an homage to the original Aerohead – worn by Greg Lemond in 1986 when he won the Tour de France by a slender margin of 8 seconds following a sensational final time trial performance. 

Given the extensive testing, Visma-Lease a Bike were familiar with the design well before yesterday's debut. "I've seen the helmet already in December and January. And yeah, so back then I had a bit of a laugh. But yeah, when you test it, when you see how fast it is, then you won't laugh anymore."

Team staff were also quick to praise the new helmet. "It's a new way of thinking about the aerodynamics of a helmet,” said Paul Martens, the Visma-Lease a Bike equipment manager in an interview with L’Équipe . "We truly think we have found a real improvement in our system for time trials.”

Frédéric Grappe, performance director at Groupama-FDJ also weighed in on the new helmet in a discussion with L'Équipe , highlighting the role of new UCI regulations on body position in time trials on the design of the helmet.

"Today, we are in extreme positions where we almost put our heads in our hands," he said. "The Visma helmet, if you look at it in profile, limits the entry of air between the head and the hands. While preserving good vision."

Grappe went on to highlight that a helmet works as a system with a rider, but that in the right circumstances, he suggested that an aerodynamically-optimised helmet like Giro's Aerohead II could render gains of one second per kilometre.

Despite the technological developments, Vingegaard found himself 22 seconds down on GC rival Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) in the opening time trial of Tirreno-Adriatico.

"He did a very good time trial beating, beating Ganna," Vingegaard said of his rival before he addressed the challenge of losing 22 seconds at the race's opening.

"Yeah, I mean, it's true 22 seconds, and I think you did a good time trial. And we'll just have to do what we can do in the next coming days to see if we can take back the time."

The helmet is due another outing today at Paris-Nice as the entire Visma-Lease A Bike squad – including Matteo Jorgenson and stage 1 winner Olav Kooij – are set to don the Aerohead II during the stage 3 team time trial.

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Peter Stuart has been the editor of Cyclingnews since March 2022, overseeing editorial output across all of Cyclingnews' digital touchpoints.

Before joining Cyclingnews, Peter was the digital editor of Rouleur magazine. Starting life as a freelance feature writer, with bylines in The Times and The Telegraph, he first entered cycling journalism in 2012, joining Cyclist magazine as staff writer. Peter has a background as an international rower, representing Great Britain at Under-23 level and at the Junior Rowing World Championships.

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The Ultimate Question: With or Without a Helmet?

As 2019 is around the corner, helmet manufacturers have come with lots of new products. Helmets get safer with new layers made of cosmic materials, which are better at absorbing shocks. Integrated systems absorb kinetic energy, slowing down the movement of the brain inside the skull in case of a crash. Modern helmets are lighter, more breathable, and many of them can carry front and rear lights, earphones, hands-free sets, navigation systems, brake lights, music players, intercoms, and shock sensors. So why do we keep refusing to wear them?

Nowadays the world is divided into countries with mandatory helmet laws, such as Finland, Argentina, New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa, Australia, and a few Canadian provinces, and the rest of the planet where only kids are required to wear helmet, if anyone at all. One must ask: Is introducing mandatory helmet laws for all cyclists the right way to go or not? Medical experience clearly speaks in favour of helmets as they can prevent serious head injuries. From the general point of view, however, the answer is a little less straightforward. Does this sound like a blasphemy to you? What could possibly be wrong with introducing mandatory helmet laws for everyone who gets in the saddle?

The most cycling-friendly countries in the world, namely Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany, don’t require helmets. And despite the huge numbers of people cycling on roadways every day, these countries register the smallest percentage of injured cyclists. Which is not a coincidence. They invest in modern cycling infrastructure, divide cycle lanes from the rest of the traffic, and have famously considerate drivers.

Stirring up a hornet’s nest

Any time someone raises their voice against mandatory bike helmet laws, it unleashes a torrent of testimonies about traumatic brain injuries of cyclists who crashed without a helmet. It’s like stirring up a hornet’s nest. Both scientific and unscientific research mostly aims to show that biking with a helmet on is much safer.

Reality can be much trickier, though. In the ‘80s, it was quite unusual to see a cyclist wearing a helmet. In 1989, Diane C. Thompson and her husband Dr Robert Thompson carried out research in Seattle, proving that cyclists wearing helmets had an 85% lower risk of sustaining head injury in case of a crash. You’d hardly find a more cogent reason for rushing to the nearest bike shop to get your helmet right now.

Later, Dorothy Robinson of the Australian University of New England hit the scene, however, claiming that most studies on cycling helmets were faulty because they used information taken out of context. She noticed in her research that people who wear helmets tend to crash much more often, sustaining injuries on other body parts.

Cycling injuries in relation to overall accident rate

Australia and New Zealand introduced mandatory helmet law in 1990. At first, it seemed to be a huge success, as the number of serious and fatal cycling injuries decreased significantly. Nevertheless, Dr Robinson took a look at the bigger picture and found out that the monitored period saw the same decrease in the injury and death rates of pedestrians and other victims of car accidents, mainly thanks to improvements in transport infrastructure and campaigns against speeding and drinking and driving. Among other things, Dr Robinson noticed that while the number of cyclists who suffered head injury decreased, the overall cycling accident rate grew, and concluded that wearing a helmet creates a false sense of security and makes some cyclists take more risks.

An interesting discovery was made by Dr Kay Teschke from the University of British Colombia, who compared data across Canadian provinces. While in some of them helmets are not mandatory for cyclists, others, such as British Colombia and Nova Scotia, require cyclists to wear helmets. The research suggested that in provinces with mandatory helmet law, 67% of cyclists wear helmets as opposed to 39% in provinces that don’t require it by law. However, chances of a cyclist ending up in hospital are similarly high across various provinces. According to Dr Teschke, wearing a helmet does indeed lower the seriousness of head injuries of cyclists who are treated in hospital after a crash. At the same time, he raises the question as to why wearing a helmet doesn’t reduce the probability of a cyclist crashing and ending up in hospital all the same.

Mandatory helmet in ice hockey and other sports

Rune Elvika, a 2011 Norwegian study, points out that research on the reduction of brain injuries in people wearing helmets conceals cervical spine injuries. That corresponds to figures from a completely different sport: American football. In this case, the first helmets appeared in 1939, and their use became mandatory in the 1960s. While death rate in American football decreased, more and more athletes suffered lesion of the spinal cord. Things evolved similarly in the NHL after 1979 when helmets and hockey pads became mandatory. On the other hand, in case of rugby, where players get along without shell helmets, the number of serious head and spine injuries is lower compared to the NFL players. A commonly cited reason is that rugby players don’t have such speed and force to suffer serious injuries when involved in a collision.

Three theories of alleged myths

In his study, journalist and traffic expert Shaun Lopez-Murphy describes three theories of universally shared untruths about mandatory helmet use. The first one concerns excessive worry. Of the total number of cycling injuries, head injuries only comprise a small percentage. During a five-year period when Dr Teschke monitored helmet use in Canada, there were 633 cycling injuries per 100 million rides. Exactly one quarter, or 25% of all hospitalisations were due to head or face injury. That provoked arguments that considering biking without helmet as health-threatening is the same thing as thinking flying is dangerous because from time to time a plane crashes.

The second theory focuses on speed. Scientists call it risk compensation. A 2012 Norwegian survey suggests that cyclists who ride at higher speeds use helmets more often (as well as other sporting equipment, such as elastic garments, glasses, click-in shoes, and superlight bikes). They also have a much higher accident rate. A year later, this discovery was supported by a video analysis at a busy roundabout in Vancouver. It turned out that on average, cyclists wearing helmets went through the area at a 50% higher speed than those without a helmet. As every hypothesis has its denying counterpart, we must mention a recent study carried out by technical universities in Chemnitz and Dresden. Volunteers were equipped with cameras and had freedom to choose when and where they want to ride and if they want to use helmet or not. The results show that the majority of participants rode at a constant speed no matter if they were using a helmet or if they left it at home.

The last of the three theories focuses on general security in relation to the overall number of cyclists on roads. The scenario in many countries was similar: As mandatory helmet law was introduced, the number of cyclists started to decrease. In 2003, Peter Jacobsen discovered a direct proportion of the number of cyclists to their safety. The more cyclists on the roads, the more vigilant and considerate drivers are, which results in lower accident rate. Accordingly, when cyclists begin disappearing from the roads – for example because of mandatory helmet use – drivers tend to crash with them more often.

Helmets save lives

You may think that it’s all just pseudoscientific theories that patch together different things as it suits them. Sporting cyclists who do a hundred kilometres every day are more likely to get involved in accidents than people who cycle to work for ten minutes once a week. Downhill mountain bikers who zoom through the woods across sharp rocks and slippery roots close to the trees at 50 km/h would never get on the bike without a full-face helmet because they know how painful a crash gets even with all the protective gear on. However, it seems legit to critically analyse the blanket introduction of mandatory helmet law. Based on calculations predicting a decrease in the number of cyclists if a mandatory helmet law was introduced, Germany dropped the idea of requiring helmets. It would counteract the federal and state policies and the endeavour across the parties to promote biking as a mode of transport for short distances.

It’s hard to tell the truth. Nevertheless, a study published this year in Finland suggested that although the number of cyclists in the country decreased compared to 1990, only a fraction of them mentions the 2003 mandatory helmet law as the reason.

A much more convincing argument for wearing a helmet was stated in a last year’s study of several universities from the Czech Republic. A scientific team looked at the circumstances of the deaths of 119 cyclists who died on Czech roads from 1995 to 2013. Pathologists examined every single case in order to determine if a helmet would help the cyclist survive or not. They had detailed police reports at hand. Results showed that helmets would help in cases where there was no other party involved in the accident, such as bike falls or collisions with obstacles. The research concluded that 44 cyclists (37%) out of the 119 could have survived had they worn a helmet. On the other hand, helmets would be of no use in case of high-speed crashes, especially if there were motorised vehicles or trains involved. The study advises cyclists to wear helmets, but at the same time warns them to avoid certain situations and not to rely on some miraculous power of the helmet.

Tragic cases from operating theatres

Doctors who come into contact with injured cyclists at departments of traumatology often witness the devastating consequences of crashing without protective gear. “I don’t like to see cyclists without helmets,” says Jan Žmolík, Czech doctor who works at the departments of orthopaedics and traumatology in a hospital in Liberec. “We often treat patients who crashed on bike without a helmet. It’s not unusual for them to lie here for many months with various tubes sticking out of their bodies and keeping them alive,” explains the doctor who is an active cross-country biker himself. “Personally, I wouldn’t even fetch my breakfast on bike without a helmet,” he adds, pointing out that in a large percentage of crashes, cyclists fall head-first. Even if they have a helmet on, the fall tends to end with a broken collarbone because that’s where the kinetic energy, lowered after bracing with hands, moves. The head, or skull, is the second point of contact. In case of a crash with a solid obstacle, such as a banister, kerb, tree, bench, or a parked vehicle, the injury can have fatal consequences.

Whether the law of your country requires you to wear a helmet or not, it’s always up to you. To make your decision easier, we enclose the results of a Norwegian study called Bicycle Helmets – To Wear or Not to Wear, which was published in 2018 by the Institute of Transport Economics in Oslo.

– Bicycle helmet reduces the risk of head injury by 48% and the risk of serious head injury by a full 60%. – Bicycle helmet reduces the risk of face injury by 23% without increasing the risk of cervical spine injury.

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Stage 2 | 06/30 cesenatico > bologne, stage 3 | 07/01 plaisance > turin, stage 4 | 07/02 pinerolo > valloire, stage 5 | 07/03 saint-jean-de-maurienne > saint-vulbas, stage 6 | 07/04 mâcon > dijon, stage 7 | 07/05 nuits-saint-georges > gevrey-chambertin, stage 8 | 07/06 semur-en-auxois > colombey-les-deux-églises, stage 9 | 07/07 troyes > troyes, rest | 07/08 orléans, stage 10 | 07/09 orléans > saint-amand-montrond, stage 11 | 07/10 évaux-les-bains > le lioran, stage 12 | 07/11 aurillac > villeneuve-sur-lot, stage 13 | 07/12 agen > pau, stage 14 | 07/13 pau > saint-lary-soulan pla d'adet, stage 15 | 07/14 loudenvielle > plateau de beille, rest | 07/15 gruissan, stage 16 | 07/16 gruissan > nîmes, stage 17 | 07/17 saint-paul-trois-châteaux > superdévoluy, stage 18 | 07/18 gap > barcelonnette, stage 19 | 07/19 embrun > isola 2000, stage 20 | 07/20 nice > col de la couillole, stage 21 | 07/21 monaco > nice, tour culture, plan your visit to the tour de france, grand départ lille-nord de france 2025, 2024 tour de france finale in nice, riding into the future, all the news, official tour operators, history of tour de france, accessories.

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Tour de France: A Look at Top Bike Helmet Brands

The Tour de France is not just any cycling race - it's the pinnacle of cycling where the world's best cyclists compete for glory, and where the best cycling gear is put to the test. One of the most important pieces of gear for any cyclist is their helmet, which not only provides protection but also plays a crucial role in performance. It's the difference between a close call and a nasty spill, between a good day and a great one. That's why Huace Sports are excited to take a closer look at the helmets worn by professional cyclists in this year's Tour de France. As a bike helmet manufacturer, HuaceSports is committed to providing cyclists with top-of-the-line helmets that not only provide superior protection but also enhance their performance. Our team of designers and engineers are constantly working to improve our helmets, incorporating the latest technology and innovations to ensure that our helmets are among the best on the market. We're proud to be a part of the cycling community and to contribute to the safety and performance of cyclists around the world. So, whether you're a professional cyclist or a weekend warrior, make sure you're using the best gear to achieve your goals and stay safe on the road.

In this post, we'll explore some of the popular brands and models that have made their way onto the heads of professional cyclists, and the technology and innovation that sets them apart. So, whether you're a seasoned cyclist or simply a fan of the sport, read on to discover the Tour de France's top cycling helmets.

Ekoi tour de france helmets

Ekoi is the most commonly found helmet manufacturer in this year's Tour de France, supporting no less than four teams representing the French brand. They are also a long-termed working partner with HuaceSports, a bike helmet manufacturer dedicated to details and design. Their AR14 helmet is the one that most riders have opted for, with its aerodynamic design paired with small vents up-front for breathability. The AR14 was worn by Caleb Ewan in that stage 3 crash, as well as by stage 4's breakaway nearly man, Brent van Moer of Lotto Soudal. EKOI continues to support professional cycling teams and athletes, including Warren Barguil of Team Arkéa Samsic. As one of the best French climbers, Barguil trusts the EKOI AR14 and EKOI GARA helmets to protect him during intense competitions. This was evident in his impressive win at the 2022 Gran Premio Miguel Indurain and 1st place finish in the 5th stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico. As the Tour de France approaches in 2023, we can expect to see more EKOI gear on display as top riders rely on the brand's quality and performance to give them an edge in the world's most prestigious cycling event. Ekoi's Gara and Legende helmets have also been seen on professional cyclists in the race. The Legende replicates the retro hairnet style with modern and safe materials, while the Gara features a streamlined design for optimal performance. 

Souce: Cyclingnews

HJC is a Korean brand that has recently entered the cycling market and gained the sponsorship of professional cyclists such as Chris Froome who claims to take part in the 2023 Tour de France and Greg Van Avermaet. And same as Ekoi, HJC is also a long termed partner with Huacesports who provide cyclists with top-of-the-line helmets that meet their needs. Most of the team has been using the IBEX 2.0, but for maximum aerodynamics, riders have been switching to the Furion 2.0. On time trial days, riders switch to the Adwatt, which offers maximum aerodynamics and ventilation for optimal performance.

Kask is an Italian brand that has gained significant popularity in the Tour de France in recent years. Their helmets are known for their lightweight and comfortable design, which provides excellent ventilation and superior protection. KASK has a long-standing association with the Tour de France, and for the 2022 race, the brand has unveiled its limited edition Valegro Tour de France helmet. This helmet features a unique graphic, with seven parallel yellow lines that represent the seven Tour victories achieved by KASK riders. Only 3,328 pieces of this special helmet have been produced, with each helmet bearing a progressive number at the back to signify a cyclist's personal kilometre of the 2022 race. 

Specialized

Specialized is a leading brand in the cycling industry, known for its high-quality helmets that are designed to offer maximum comfort and safety. Specialized helmets have become a staple in the Tour de France with their exclusive use by Specialized-sponsored teams in recent years. The teams riding Specialized bikes also use their helmets, shoes, tires, and wheels, such as the Roval. Fans of the race have seen the current Road World Champion, Julian Alaphilippe, lighting up the race in the S-Works Prevail 2 while Peter Sagan, a three-time champion, will be donning the S-Works Evade. The S-Works Prevail 2 is known for its regular fit, while the S-Works Evade is aerodynamic. The teams wearing these helmets in the 2022 tour de France race include BORA Hansgrohe, QuickStep Alpha Vinyl Team, and Total Energies. Fans can get their hands on these helmets at Competitive Cyclist and Jenson USA.

Giro is another popular brand that has been present in the Tour de France for many years. Their helmets are a well-known brand among the pro peloton, with a history dating back to pre-2000. This year, three teams in the 2022 Tour de France will be wearing Giro helmets, including Groupama-FDJ. Cyclists will have the option to choose from three Giro helmets; the Giro Aether Spherical, Giro Vanquish MIPS, and Giro Aerohead MIPS helmets. The Giro Aerohead MIPS helmet will be used by Trek-Segafredo riders for time trials as their helmet supplier, Bontrager, does not produce a TT helmet.

POC tour de france helmets

POC is a Swedish brand that has revolutionized bike helmets with their patented SPIN safety technology. The unique light blue liner in all POC helmets today is indicative of the SPIN system which protects riders against rotational forces in the event of an impact. Their helmets are also among the most stylish in the pro peloton and this year, the EF Education Nippo team will be sporting the pink POC Ventral SPIN Air helmets. These helmets feature an aerodynamic design and are sure to catch the eye of spectators watching the Tour de France.

Bell is an iconic brand in the cycling industry, with over 60 years of experience in crafting high-quality helmets that are built to last. Their helmets are renowned for their durability and superior construction, making them a popular choice among cyclists. In the 2021 Tour de France, the Bell Z20 was a top pick among riders, thanks to its aerodynamic design that delivers exceptional performance in any condition. Its advanced ventilation system keeps cyclists cool and comfortable during long rides. It's unfortunate to note that Bell helmets did not make an appearance in the 2022 Tour de France, leaving fans and riders alike to wonder what happened to this classic brand.

The 2022 Tour de France showcases a total of 16 different bike helmet brands. The top two helmet brands with the most presence in the race are Ekoi and Specialized with three teams each, followed by Abus and HJC with two teams. Bell, a classic brand that has been present in the race for over 60 years, did not show up in the race this year. It is interesting to note that some of the teams choose to wear helmets from brands other than their bike sponsor's brand.

2022 bike helmet brands present at the Tour de France

In Conlusion

In conclusion, the Tour de France continues to push the boundaries of cycling technology, and the helmets worn by the pros are no exception. With the constant evolution of aerodynamics, ventilation, and safety features, it's no wonder that helmet brands are eager to showcase their products in the race. As fans and spectators, we can appreciate the commitment of the teams and riders to the sport, as well as the dedication of the helmet manufacturers to push the limits of helmet technology. Ultimately, the Tour de France is an exciting and inspiring display of the best cycling has to offer, and we can't wait to see what the future holds for helmet innovation in the race.

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Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas thinks cyclists should be forced to wear helmets

Tour winner thinks helmets should be compulsory for all cyclists.

This year’s Tour de France champion, Welshman Geraint Thomas of Team Sky, has chimed in on a long-standing debate on whether helmets should be mandatory for cyclists. While in bicycle racing there is no argument that wearing a helmet is a necessary precaution to keep the athletes safe, the debate is more nuanced when it comes to commuters and recreational cyclists going at much lower speeds in small groups. Thomas thinks all cyclists should be forced to wear helmets.

“I would certainly make helmets compulsory,” Thomas said to The Sunday Times . “I always wear a helmet.

“I’ve put on a helmet more times than I’ve buckled a seatbelt.

“Helmets have come on a lot — well ventilated, not too hot, you don’t look stupid — no reason not to.”

While a professional cyclist like Thomas rides tens of thousands of kilometres a year at training camps, on their home training roads, up mountain passes and in races, they don’t commute in urban areas and much of their time in the saddle is dedicated to getting faster and fitter.

I’ve never ridden a bike in London, apart from in a race,” Thomas admits about his experience riding on open roads in the United Kingdom’s capital city. “I’ve watched from a taxi and it does seem a bit crazy. I would certainly make helmets compulsory.”

The UCI made wearing helmets in professional races compulsory in 2003 after the death of Andrei Kivilev at Paris–Nice. Pro cyclists, however, are exposed to very different risks than commuters of recreational riders.

Advocacy group Cycling UK are opposed to making helmets mandatory. “Evidence shows that the health benefits of cycling are so much greater than the relatively low risks involved, that even if these measures caused only a very small reduction in cycle use, this would still almost certainly mean far more lives being lost through physical inactivity than helmets could possibly save, however effective,” the charity said adding that the cost of enforcement would also outweigh the gains of having all cyclists wear helmets.

The government is currently doing a cycling safety review in which making helmets mandatory is being examined to address public safety on the road.

If you're cycling 50 km/h in tight pelotons where a head-injury crash is almost a certainty over time, sure wear a helmet. This is like NASCAR racers advocating for 5 point harnesses, wraparound seats, and roll cages for 20 km/h golf carts. https://t.co/9HCbt6sY8D — Richard Masoner ?‍♂️ (@cyclelicious) August 27, 2018

Thomas’ former teammate Bradley Wiggins thought his comments were blown totally out of proportion. On The Bradley Wiggins Show vodcast, Wiggins said, “Geraint has been concentrating on what he’s been trying to do – win the Tour de France. The last month he’s been preoccupied with that, and all of a sudden he comes back from the Tour de France and everyone wants to know what he thinks about certain topics.”

Wiggins wondered the context of the question and whether Thomas even had strong opinions about the subject with his comments causing strong reactions in the difference camps.

“He’s the Tour de France winner now, and everyone wants to know his view on certain things like he’s some sort of Messiah,” Wiggins continued.

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Fines and time penalties Tour de France 2024 | Jury penalizes both aggressive Vauquelin and local hero Bernard

T hrowing away waste, prohibited positions on the bike, sticky bottles, or a shoulder push in the lead-up to a bunch sprint; all sorts of things can happen during a race, especially in the Tour de France, which has 21 stages. IDLProCycling.com tracks the various infractions and associated penalties for you in this overview!

A rider can be penalized by the jury for various reasons. A common reason is the improper disposal of food and bottles. There are designated zones for this on the course. If a rider throws away their waste outside these zones, they (or the responsible team director) can be fined for it.

Fines are also frequently issued for sticky bottles. This occurs when a rider saves their legs by allowing themselves to be pulled along by the team car while receiving a bottle. Nowadays, riders also need to be mindful of their posture on the bike. Positions such as the time-trial stance (wrists over the center of the handlebars) during a stage and the ‘super-tuck’ (sitting on the top tube during a descent) have been prohibited by the jury for several years now, with the UCI being responsible for this.

Fines are not the only penalties the jury can impose. They can also issue time penalties or deduct points from secondary classifications like the points classification or the mountain jersey. Additionally, a rider’s UCI ranking points are not safe in the case of serious or repeated infractions. The more severe the infraction, or the more frequently it occurs in a stage, the heavier the penalty. The ultimate penalty is disqualification, although this is rarely enforced.

Fines and time penalties Tour de France 2024

The jury will have looked back on the first Tour with satisfaction. They did not have to hand out any penalties, an exemplary start for a so far well behaved peloton. 24 bikes were selected for a check for mechanical fraud. No irregularities were found.

On day two, the first fines were handed out. Two of them went to Alpecin-Deceuninck team managers. Team manager Christoph Roodhooft received a fine of 500 Swiss francs for violating rules regarding vehicle movements during the race. His colleague Gianni Meersman failed to comply with the commissioners' instructions, resulting in a fine of 200 Swiss francs.

Arkéa-B&B Hotels, despite showcasing its positive side with stage winner Kévin Vauquelin, also had some issues. His teammate Raul Garcia Pierna was penalized for urinating in public. This infraction cost the Spanish all-rounder (or his team) 200 Swiss francs. Lastly, 44 bikes were inspected for mechanical fraud, with no violations found.

No fines or time penalties.

The tumultuous stage to Saint-Vulbas leads to infractions for the first time in three days. Phil Bauhaus deviated from his line in the sprint, resulting in a 13-point penalty in the points classification and a fine of 500 Swiss francs. Jarrad Drizners was fined 200 francs for 'inappropriate behavior at the finish.' Davide Ballerini faced the same penalty, also for actions after the finish.

In the sixth stage to Dijon, one event took center stage: the disqualification of Jasper Philipsen after he hindered Wout van Aert in a full sprint. For this, he was also docked thirteen points in the fight for green, as well as fined 500 Swiss francs.

Philipsen was not the only one penalized. Mark Cavendish, Thursday's stage winner, was also fined. The Brit was penalized for drafting behind a car and had to pay 200 Swiss francs, with an additional ten-point penalty in the points classification. Teammate Alexey Lutsenko faced the same fate, while team directors Dmitriy Fofonov (Astana) and Mario Aerts (Lotto-Dstny) received fines of 500 Swiss francs each.

Anyone who expected the jury to have little to do during a time trial was mistaken. The jury handed out some very notable fines. Stage two winner Kévin Vauquelin (Arké-B&B Hotels) crossed the line significantly. He received a fine of 500 Swiss francs and a deduction of 20 UCI points for "attacks, intimidation, insults, threats and improper behavior (including pulling on another rider's jersey or saddle, hitting with a helmet, knee, elbow, shoulder, foot, or hand, etc.) that is indecent or that endangers others."

Then there's local hero Julien Bernard (Lidl-Trek), who turned the time trial over his home roads into a real celebration. In particular on the climb, he whipped up the crowd. At one point, he even stopped to greet his family or fan club. The jury, however, did not appreciate this. Bernard received a fine of 200 Swiss francs for inappropriate behavior during the time trial and for damaging the reputation of the sport. Finally, there was a fine of 200 Swiss francs for Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) for riding too close to another rider's wheel.

Kask Mojito helmet review

We test Team Sky's former helmet of choice

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The Kask Protone helmet is an incredibly high quality helmet for the price, being well ventilated, comfortable, and available in a huge range of colours.

Well ventilated

Comfortable

Plenty of adjustability

Wide range of colour choices

Great value

Stickers prone to peeling off

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Let’s face it, if a helmet is good enough for Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome , then it’s probably good enough for us lot. The Kask Mojito was Team Sky ’s helmet of choice from 2012 to 2014, and from my time using it, it’s easy to see why.

>>> Buyer's guide to road bike helmets

The Kask Mojito offers almost everything that you’d expect from a high performance helmet: low weight, excellent ventilation, great comfort, and a high level of adjustability. The only thing that doesn’t meet expectations is the price which, at £100 is half what you might expect from a pro level helmet.

I’ll start with the ventilation, which is very good. There are 26 air vents covering the helmet which do a great job of letting cool air in at the front and getting rid of hot air out of the back, which means that you shouldn’t find this helmet too hot unless you’re riding in some pretty sweltering conditions.

>>> The best deals on bike helmets

It might not be quite as well ventilated as the identically priced Catlike Whisper , but that’s not really a problem as it makes the Kask Mojito more usable in cooler conditions where the Catlike had a tendency to be a bit too ventilated.

Watch: buyer's guide to helmets

Comfort and fit are also very good. I’ve got quite a narrow head, while the Kask Mojito is probably a better fit for those with wider heads, but despite this it still sat securely and comfortably on my head.

>>> Review: Giro Synthe helmet

This is thanks to the well-positioned and relatively slim padding and thje rear dial adjustment system, which can also be rotated up and down to make sure that the back of your head is held securely. It is also thanks to this adjustment system that a large range of head circumferences are covered by each size (my medium would fit a range of 48-58cm).

The straps of the Kask Mojito are made from two different materials. The bits around your ears are made form a standard nylon that you’ll find on most helmet straps, while the bit underneath your chin from an artificial leather (something that is also found on the more expensive Kask Protone ).

Kask says that this is to improve comfort, but the Cycling Weekly tech team is split on whether this is true. Personally I feel that it lacks the flexibility of a normal strap, while others like how soft the strap feels against the skin. Perhaps it’s a good idea to test the helmet out in a shop before making up your mind.

>>> Review: Specialized Airnet helmet

One thing that we all love about the Kask Mojito is the wide range of colours in which it is offered. The attractive navy and white option that you see here is new for 2016, but there are no fewer than 24 different colour options available (although some do cost a little more) which should mean that there’s no excuse not to match your helmet perfectly with your kit.

Finally, one small criticism that may become more of an issue if you’re using the Kask Mojito for a year or two is that all of the decals are stickers rather than being painted on to the helmet, meaning they lack a quality touch and are prone to peeling off.

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Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

UCI, event organisers and wider cycling world pay tribute as young rider dies of injuries sustained in crash

By Flo Clifford Published 6 July 24

Intermarché sprinter's incredible Tour continued as he became first to win two stages this year

Lidl-Trek rider battled on despite injuries but was forced to abandon before start of stage 8

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