CSC and Crédit Agricole debut new Bell Volt at Tour de France

When the riders from Team CSC-Saxo Bank and Crédit Agricole make the Grand Départ of the 95th Tour de France Saturday, they will be the first to race in the all-new Bell Volt helmet. And with a rolling stage profile that will likely see a high pace and numerous attacks, those riders will experience first hand the amazing ventilation and comfort of Bell’s new high-end offering—something that will only become more welcome as the three-week Grand Tour wears on.

Combining massive ventilation, svelte weight, and high-tech comfort features, the Volt is a worthy companion to the riders who will usher in its debut. Overall threats Carlos Sastre and brothers Fränk and Andy Schleck of the CSC squad will put the Volt to the test in the sport’s ultimate proving ground—the high mountains—as they vie for the Tour’s final podium. Stage hunters like Crédit Agricole’s Thor Hushovd, Christophe Le Mevel and Dimitri Fofonov along with CSC’s likely animators—Fabian Cancellara, Jens Voigt and Stuart O’Grady—promise an exciting Tour from end to end.

“The Tour always delivers excitement and drama,” said Bell Vice President Tom Larter. “CSC and Crédit Agricole are always at the sharp end of the race come Tour time and we’re thrilled to have them debut the Volt.”

The word “sharp” could also be used to describe the company’s new helmet. Eleven frontal vents corral massive amounts of air with the help of the Volt’s custom-sculpted Composite Fiber Intakes (CFI) which direct flow to the helmet’s internal StreamJet Ventilation channels. Rearward exhaust ports and the moisture-wicking X-Static padding work in tandem to help keep the rider cool and dry. The Volt is made even more comfortable by Bell’s new Twin Axis Gear (TAG) fit system that allows riders to both dial in the exact fit as well as adjust the mechanism’s horizontal position on the back of the head.

Designed to be used on- or off-road, the Volt features Bell’s removable Variable Position Visor (VPV) and is well suited to the rigors of a race like the Tour as it is on the singletrack of World Cup XC racing. Pictured: Crédit Agricole and CSC Limited Edition Bell Volt Helmets. Both come standard with removable visor and visor plugs for on- off-road use.