In the wave of equipment changes the UCI has announced will take effect in road racing in 2026 – including limits on handlebar width, wheel depth, and potentially even gearing – helmets are the latest target in the governing body’s ongoing bid to slow the peloton down.
Ronan Mc Laughlin
We reported late last month that the UCI had announced a ban on some aero helmets. Now, in a memorandum issued by cycling's governing body, the exact details of the new regulations have been laid clear, coming into effect January 1 2026 for road and in 2027 for track.
So what has changed?
Under the current regulations, TT helmets are permitted in mass-start road races, with some riders from Visma-Lease a Bike opting to use Giro’s Aerohead TT helmet in some road races. With these new rules, this helmet, along with some non-TT-specific helmets, will no longer be allowed. Here's the breakdown of the changes:
Did we do a good job with this story?
