Evenepoel no longer rides with a helmet sock, Roglic does: “It was prohibited from April 1”

Striking discord in the time trial of the Tour of the Basque Country: Remco Evenepoel left the helmet sock from sponsor Specialized in his wardrobe, Primoz Roglic did not. Wouldn’t the UCI have banned the gadget from today, April 1? Evenepoel: “That’s what it said in an email to us, but apparently they wrote something different on their website.”

The UCI applied the brakes during Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico. The International Cycling Union would investigate the revolutionary time trial helmets from Visma-Lease a Bike and in the same breath also issued a ban on Specialized’s helmet sock.

In the 2022 Tour, the American material sponsor presented a piece of fabric that is incorporated into the helmet for the first time.

The head sock would increase aerodynamics and Soudal – Quick Step and Bora-Hansgrohe, two teams that collaborate with Specialized, made grateful use of it.

Evenepoel already criticized the UCI’s intervention in Paris-Nice, but the time trial world champion complied with the regulations today. Although everyone was shocked when Roglic did use the gadget.

That the UCI website states that it is prohibited from April 2? The UCI sent us an email that it would be prohibited from April 1. I don’t think they know it themselves.

Remco Evenepoel

“We were not allowed to drive it,” Remco Evenepoel argues for his team’s position. “Bora-Hansgrohe did it.”

“That the UCI website states that it is prohibited from April 2? The UCI sent us an email that it would be prohibited from April 1. They don’t know it themselves, I don’t think. We were already told in Paris-Nice that it would be the last time.”

“It’s special, yes. They’re starting to think of all kinds of things. This morning, 2 hours before the start, they said that the radios had to stay on the back again. I don’t know what to make of it.”

“If they send this message to us, it will be prohibited for us from April 1. They put it differently on their website. We didn’t want to take the risk, but this didn’t make a difference. But it’s strange: they do something they want to.”

And Primoz Roglic? What did he have to say? “I don’t think it will be allowed anymore from tomorrow (April 2). But today my neck felt a bit warmer.”

“No, we will indeed not see it anymore after today. What do I think? It’s a good decision. Especially because I don’t expect any more cold temperatures in the coming months.”