Monday April 1, 2024 at 6:58 PM
The UCI previously decided to ban Specialized’s so-called ‘helmet sock’. From April 2, the helmet and sock combination will no longer be seen in the professional peloton. Remco Evenepoel rode the opening time trial of the Tour of the Basque Country without socks today, April 1. This is in contrast to the eventual stage winner Primoz Roglic.
The new edition of RIDE Magazine is now available! Our new 188-page spring edition is full of wonderful cycling stories about Mathieu van der Poel, Lotte Kopecky, Demi Vollering, Sepp Kuss and Matej Mohoric. Insure your copy and order it online now for only €9.95. Would you like to receive RIDE extra cheaply? Then take out a subscription now and receive a 20% discount!
What now turns out: Evenepoel and his teammates from Soudal Quick-Step had received an email from the UCI that the ban on the head sock already took effect on April 1, while the UCI website states April 2. “No, we were no longer allowed to ride with the sock,” Evenepoel said after the time trial The newspapaer. “Those from BORA-hansgrohe (Roglic’s team, ed.) did drive it.”
“That the UCI website states that it is prohibited from April 2? We received an email confirming that the ban took effect from April 1. Because in Paris-Nice they had already said that it was the last time we were allowed to drive it. They don’t know it themselves, I think,” Evenepoel is clearly not happy with the state of affairs.
Radio is no longer allowed on the chest
“If they tell us that it is no longer allowed from April 1, then we think that it is no longer allowed from April 1. And then they put it differently on the website. We don’t want to take the risk. It’s weird, they do what they want. They start thinking of all kinds of things. This morning they came two hours before the start to say that the radios should be put back on the back (instead of in the front of the jersey, which would provide an aerodynamic advantage, ed.).”
Roglic still rode with the striking helmet sock today – photo: Cor Vos
The UCI released a statement on March 5 indicating that Specialized’s ‘helmet sock’ will no longer be permitted in competition from April. The sock is assessed by the international cycling union as non-essential and in violation of article 1.3.033 of the UCI regulations.
From April 2, the helmet and sock combination will no longer be seen in the professional peloton. This means that Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic will no longer be seen wearing the black neck sock in the future. Evenepoel became world time trial champion in 2023 with the striking design.
Tags: Confusion Basque Country Evenepoel longer rides prohibited helmet sock Roglic
-
