On the day of ‘helmet gate’: UCI and ‘Innovation Manager’ Mick Rogers parted ways

Just on the day that there was great uncertainty from the UCI about the ban on the so-called ‘helmet sock’ in the time trial in the Tour of the Basque Country, ex-cyclist Michael Rogers was said goodbye. At the international cycling association, he was responsible for regulations surrounding new technologies.

Strange communication from the UCI regarding the famous sock in Specialized’s time trial helmet. Soudal Quick-Step was no longer allowed to use it as of April 1, while for competitor Bora-Hansgrohe the ban only came into effect one day later.

Extra intrigue: now the UCI is saying goodbye to former rider Mick Rogers, the man who, as ‘Head of Road Cycling and Innovation’, was responsible for the regulations surrounding new technology such as the sock helmet. The decision to ban it is directly attributed to him. “I will no longer work for the UCI at the end of March,” Rogers confirms to our newspaper. “I therefore do not think it is appropriate to speak out (about the helmet discussion).”

Rogers himself is a three-time world time trial champion. In the podcast The Move, Johan Bruyneel previously pointed out a striking contradiction. The rider Rogers himself always looked for innovation. While in his role as policymaker he wants to ban novelties such as the sock and the helmet from Visma – Lease a Bike. “I’m going to ask Rogers what happened to his memory,” Bruyneel said. “But honestly, I can’t believe he’s the man behind those decisions. If he has to implement things in his role, it is probably because he is under political pressure.”

The fact that Rogers is now leaving the UCI does not seem to be unrelated to the discussion surrounding time trial helmets. (jpdv, hc)