"This is classic UCI again" - Remco Evenepoel and Matteo Jorgenson highly critical of sudden actions against time-trial equipment

Team Visma | Lease a Bike have revealed a new time-trial helmet this week at Tirreno-Adriatico. The UCI promptly responded by banning the Specialized head sock that Soudal - Quick-Step and BORA - hansgrohe have been wearing for the past year, and having an investigation into Visma's helmet. Remco Evenepoel and Matteo Jorgenson were not happy with these decisions.

Specialized's head sock was a controversial addition in recent years to time-trial attire, but the riders of Quick-Step and BORA have been using it and to great success. However in a very sudden decision, they were banned this week by the UCI after the Visma helmet debate. "Two years ago they accepted the helmet, now they are taking it out. I kinda get the feeling they want to mess with us," Remco Evenepoel told Sporza. "It's not very friendly what they do. There are other teams that almost ride in the peloton with a time trial helmet. I mean EF-EasyPost."

The Belgian champion is highly critical of the UCI's actions and points out that the inconsistencies and flaws from the sport's leading organization do not top: "They make the race ridiculous and ensure that all riders turn against the UCI. I still see riders riding with those brake levers in the race. It's something to laugh about," he says. He refers to the change in angles of break levers on road bikes, which allows for aerodynamical gains. Although restrictions were recently introduced, often extreme angles are still visible on riders' bikes.

As for Visma's situation, it is equally outraging according to new signing Matteo Jorgenson who used the helmet yesterday at the team time-trial. "This is classic UCI again. We already tested these helmets in November and they were approved then," he reveals. A step back may be possible. "They just go back on rules they made. So they are not strict rules at all."