Astana Manager Alexander Vinokourov pranks team riders under disguise, also reveals new Limar helmet

Alexander Vinokourov, the controversial 2012 Olympic road race champ and current Astana Manager, gave his team a surprise when he blitzed them all up the side of a testing climb disguised as an old man, before revealing the prank at the top.   

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We see Vinokourov donning a silver wig and moustache before waiting for the riders and matching them all the way up, showing them the boss has still got it. One thing that's a bit less obvious is Vino's choice of headwear, and that, we're told, is a prototype of Limar's new aero road helmet. 

The new lid looks markedly different to Limar's current 007 Superlight aero road helmet, which resembles a stubby TT lid of sorts. There is more prominent venting and to us, the shape looks like a hybrid of Scott's Cadence and Lazer's new Bullet. Limar's UK brand manager tells us it matched Kask's new Ultimo helmet as worn by Team Sky for speed in the wind tunnel. Further details are TBC.     

Vinokourov won the Vuelta in 2006 and road race Olympic gold in 2012, before his retirement later that year. He served a two year suspension for blood doping in 2007, and is currently facing trial for corruption over an alleged case of race fixing.  

Update: Astana pro rider Moreno Moser has now posted a photo of himself wearing the new helmet in team colours on Instagram

 

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A post shared by Moreno Moser (@morenomoser) on Jan 19, 2018 at 2:53am PST