New Visor Design Spotted on Remco Evenepoel during Critérium du Dauphiné Time Trial - Explanation Behind the Change
Rolling Through the Wind Tunnel: A Deep Dive into Remco Evenepoel's Aero-Savvy Helmet
Cycling enthusiasts, take a closer look! Remco Evenepoel's time trial helmet at the Critérium du Dauphiné caught everyone's attention, sporting a fresh, innovative design. But don't be fooled by its novelty, for this aero upgrade was finely tuned to remedy a practical issue, offering Evenepool a competitive edge.
During that exhilarating stage victory, the world champion rocked a new cutaway visor, designed specifically for his Specialized S-Works TT5 lid. At first glance, it appeared to be an avant-garde aero tweak, but the secret to its success lies in a simple, yet clever adjustment.
According to specialists from Specialized, the issue at hand was the previous visor brushing his hands and wrists whilst in a time trial position. With the new visor, Evenepoel can dip his head lower, avoiding contact with his limbs. It's that straightforward!
Michael Hutchinson, our in-house aero and time trial expert, finds the design "a really neat solution," suggesting that Although contact with hands may have been the initial problem, a broader streamlining effort likely lies behind the decision.
"Clearly, there's no way they just made this random shaped visor without testing it," Hutchinson explains. "So you've got to accept that everything in that decision is aerodynamically driven."
Interestingly, the Specialized time trial helmet previously boasted a larger visor, which was later replaced by a sleeker version across both Soudal Quick-Step and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe teams. It seems that Evenepoel's design incorporates elements from both, striking a balance between aerodynamics and comfortable head positioning.
The new cutaway visor may come with a potential drawback: a lack of eye protection. However, Hutchinson assures us that this won't be an issue when Evenepoel’s head is down close to his arms, providing adequate protection from debris.
Furthermore, Hutchinson shares intriguing observations from a recent wind tunnel session with a rider using the larger original visor on the same Specialized helmet. There, the visor rested on the rider's forearms, an annoyance that could be effectively eliminated with a design like the one employed by Evenepoel.
Ultimately, whether it's the visor or the whole setup that gained him the upper hand, Tuesday's ride saw Evenepoel wearing the yellow jersey with a 49-second lead over Tadej Pogačar. Next month at the Tour de France, expect more of this aero-savvy prowess from Evenepoel. Keep your eyes on the road as we continue to see innovative adaptations pushing the bounds of speed and efficiency in cycling.
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[^1]: Enrichment Data: This design optimization is specifically tailored to Evenepoel's unique riding position and biomechanics. The modification aims to address the issue of physical contact between the helmet and the rider's hands or wrists while adopting an aggressive low time trial posture.[^5]: Enrichment Data: The primary goal of the cutaway visor is to eliminate contact between the helmet and the rider's hands or wrists, enabling a lower and more streamlined head position, potentially reducing drag. The design is based on careful assessment and testing to ensure the modified shape maintains or improves airflow around the head and helmet.
Road racing is a sport where every minor detail can make a significant difference, as demonstrated by Remco Evenepoel's new cutaway visor in his Specialized S-Works TT5 time trial helmet. This sports innovation, specifically designed to address the issue of his previous visor brushing his hands and wrists, is a result of a broader streamlining effort aimed at minimizing drag.
