The aero helmet Rohan Dennis wore when he rode the fastest time trial in Tour de France history last year will be available to buy from this summer.
Australian rider Dennis rode into the first yellow jersey of last year’s Tour wearing the Giro Aerohead Ultimate MIPS lid, which Giro claim is the fastest helmet they’ve ever tested.
The helmet will be available in two versions: the Aerohead has venting designed for for longer events, whereas the Aerohead Ultimate has a smooth, ‘TeXtreme’ shell and reduced venting to minimise drag.
Both helmets feature MIPS technology, which is designed to reduce the rotational impact that can result from some crashes.
The Aerohead MIPS will set you back some £229.99, while the Aerohead Ultimate MIPS – as used by Dennis’ BMC Racing team, as well as Team Wiggins and Katusha – costs an eye-watering £499.99.
Giro’s director of helmet R&D, Rob Wesson, says the new time trial lid is the culmination three decades works in aerodynamics.
“In 1985, Giro pioneered the aerodynamic helmet with the original Advantage. The Aerohead MIPS is our fastest helmet ever and represents the culmination of everything we have learned over the past 30 years.
“In addition, we have been able to integrate MIPS to provide more protection in certain impacts, as well as including the Roc Loc Air fit system and hydrophilic padding to improve ventilation and cooling.
“With its combination of reduced drag, MIPS, and increased comfort, the Aerohead MIPS simply wouldn’t have been possible only a few years ago.
“By utilising a TeXtreme carbon fibre shell for the Aerohead Ultimate MIPS, we were able to further reduce frontal area, making our fastest shape ever even faster.”
Giro claim the Aerohead Ultimate MIPS is three seconds faster over 40km than their previous best-in-class lid, the Selector, while the Aerohead MIPS – with its additional ventilation – is 14 seconds faster over 180km than the Selector and ten per cent cooler than the Ultimate.
Both helmets have a claimed weight of 455g, and both also feature a vented eye shield made by ZEISS Optics and a magnetic lens anchor attachment.
The Aerohead MIPS will hit the shelves in July, and the Aerohead Ultimate MIPS will be available from September.
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