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French manufacturer VAN RYSEL is introducing a Signature Edition helmet developed for Dutch sprinter Olav Kooij (Team DECATHLON CMA CGM). Featuring an ultra-reflective paint finish, this model was designed to help teammates and sports directors spot their leader more quickly during the final kilometers of Tour de France stages.
Source: Press Release – Photos: VAN RYSEL / Pauline Baillet
In mass sprints, where speeds regularly exceed 65 km/h, every detail can make a difference. With this in mind, VAN RYSEL has developed an exclusive helmet for Olav Kooij, one of Team DECATHLON CMA CGM’s top sprinters.
The unique feature of this Signature Edition is its front section, covered in an ultra-reflective gray glitter paint. This finish is designed to make the rider immediately identifiable within a peloton that can sometimes include more than 150 riders.
The goal is twofold: to facilitate the work of the sprint train and to make it easier for sports directors to track their leader’s movements from the team car.
A Claimed Tactical Advantage
For Olav Kooij, this development is not just about aesthetics. “In a sprint, timing and positioning make all the difference in securing the win. This helmet, with its unique design, gives me a lot of confidence, but above all, it allows Daan Hoole and Cees Bol to spot me at a glance when the situation gets tense.”
Mark Renshaw, sports director of Team DECATHLON CMA CGM, shares this view, believing that this improved visibility can be a real tactical advantage. “Analyzing the peloton from the car and instructing the riders to regroup requires an immediate assessment of the race. Thanks to a special paint job, the goal is to spot Olav in a fraction of a second, even in the middle of a peloton of 150 riders. It’s a real tactical tool that we hope will give us an edge.”
Three models featured
This visual identity is featured on VAN RYSEL’s three high-end helmets:
- RCR-F, designed for sprints and aerodynamic performance;
- RCR-R, designed for hilly and mountainous courses thanks to enhanced ventilation;
- RCR-X, developed for time trials.
Equipment: A New Strategic Focus
With this Signature Edition, VAN RYSEL highlights a different approach to performance. Beyond aerodynamics or weight, the helmet also becomes a tool for visual communication within the peloton.
In a sport increasingly focused on marginal gains, this innovation illustrates how equipment manufacturers are now seeking to provide professional teams with a tactical advantage, even in the most decisive phases of races.
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