Is there a better place than the Tour the France to test new products? That was BBB’s thinking when they handed their new helmet, the Icarus, to their two sponsored teams for the race.

Vacansoleil-DCM and Cofidis will ride with the Icarus helmet through the Tour, after which BBB will consult the likes of  Wout Poels, Johnny Hoogerland, David Moncoutié and Rein Taaramae before entering the final stage of development.

BBB say they used the feedback given about their current top-of-the-range helmet, the Falcon, to design the Icarus, creating what they call “a more compact, lightweight and comfortable helmet with even better ventilation properties” thanks to 29 air vents, while the helmet’s straps have an open structure to allow better airflow.

BBB also emphasise that, while airflow is important, the primary function of a helmet is to protect your head. In order to create a “lighter and safer helmet”, BBB have used a double in-mold shell construction which means that during the manufacturing process the outer polycarbonate shell and the high density EPS foam are bonded together, while an extra polycarbonate internal reinforcement web structure is also bonded. A SpiderWeb reinforcement is added to the back of the helmet for protection if you crash on the back of your head.

Finally, the helmet is adjustable in height and length. The Icarus will come in two sizes, medium (55-58cm) and large (58-62cm) and five colours: black/white, metallic black/neon yellow, white/blue, white/red and matt white/silver. The BBB Icarus will be available towards the end of the year and the price is expected to be £119.95.