Did they change the rule this year (or last year???). They used to allow the riders to discard their helmets if they were finishing on a mountain top and if that final climb was a certain distance. I did not see anyone tossing out their lids on Le Alpe. Maybe this has been in effect for a while now...color me clueless! :o

I believe that 2005 was the last year they could toss the lid on an uphill finish....I think...

I believe that 2005 was the last year they could toss the lid on an uphill finish....I think...

I think you are correct.

I kinda liked the old rule. Something about the helmetless head made it more personal.

On the other hand, there've been a few crashes this year (Pereiro and Evans come to mind) where the rider was probably quite happy to have had a helmet on. I know, not uphill mountain stage finishes, but still...

^^^^Brings to mind a Q. Am I the only one that on long climbs takes off his helmet and hangs it on the hood until the top of the climb?

Might be 2004 being the last year, Axel Merckx and Johan Van Summeren got stung by the rule in March 2005 and were removed from the Paris-Nice race. So everybody requires a helmet from start to finish even if it isn't a UCI sanctioned race.

I could see a helmet manufacturer coming up with something lighter with more vents for the mountain stages, but does it have to meet some minimum requirement or passing a crash test?

I think I read somewhere that the Ionos or maybe the Atmos actually keeps your head cooler than no helmet at all. Airflow and all that.


I might be making that up but I do seem to remember something

I think I read somewhere that the Ionos or maybe the Atmos actually keeps your head cooler than no helmet at all. Airflow and all that.
I might be making that up but I do seem to remember something

the Ionos is so cool that it comes with a skull cap to keep your head warm.
all i know is that my head doesn't sweat no matter how hard i go.

... maybe the Atmos actually keeps your head cooler than no helmet at all. Airflow and all that.



Um, I can't say my Atmos is that tricked out.


Not suffering enuf perhaps? I'll punish myself w. some hills tomm. Temps heating up a bit too.

the Ionos is so cool that it comes with a skull cap to keep your head warm.
all i know is that my head doesn't sweat no matter how hard i go.

Lucky you. When I climb it's like taking a shower in my own sweat :(

I don't like hanging my helmet on the hoods because then it swings around and annoys me.

I forget I even have it on my head after a little bit so I wouldn't bother. Plus, after a crash that ruined my entire summer, I'm not going to ride my road bike without a helmet...

^^^^^^I talking on long climbs, If I crash a 5 mph I'll be ok. At that point it wouldn't really be a crash. It would be falling over.