"I don't care how ridiculous I look, what matters is how fast the helmet is" - Attila Valter defends revolutionary Team Visma | Lease a Bike helmet

Although Juan Ayuso took a brilliant win in the opening stage time-trial at Tirreno-Adriatico, the main talking point pre-stage, during and post-stage has unquestionably been the new look Team Visma | Lease a Bike time-trial helmet.

It's fair to say the reaction to it from the wider cycling community hasn't been the best with Thomas De Gendt even going so far as to say "It's a good moment to stop cycling," in reaction. As Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Hungarian national champion, Attila Valter says however, when it comes to aerodynamics, speed is more important than looks.

"It looks funny, but innovation is funny sometimes. I am very proud that I ride in this team and that we already have this helmet. I am sure that other teams will also do something like that," Valter says firmly to In de Leiderstrui. "Tell me which time-trial helmet looks good? If you don't follow cycling, all time-trial helmets look ridiculous. I don't care how ridiculous that is, what matters is how fast the helmet is."

"When I'm on the bike, I feel super fast. It sounds like you're in the wind tunnel," concludes Valter, who notably finished 90th, 54 seconds down on the stage. "It also feels safer, because I see more with the larger glass. The helmet lies more on your head, allowing you to see further. I am very happy with it, even though the team has indicated that you can use the old model if a time trial is not important. But I never will. If a helmet is faster, I'll use it."