An integrated wing running across the crown defines POC's Cytal, channeling air both over and through the helmet structure to create a Venturi effect that accelerates airflow and improves cooling at speed. The design shares its aerodynamic DNA with the carbon-winged Cytal Carbon used by EF Pro Cycling, but substitutes the carbon reinforcement for an EPS and polycarbonate wing construction that brings the price point down while adding only ten grams. Where the two helmets differ more substantially is in crash protection, and here the standard Cytal actually pulls ahead.

Virginia Tech's independent helmet testing lab awarded the Cytal a 5-star safety rating, placing it first among all road cycling helmets in their rankings and third overall across every cycling category. That result stems from POC's variable-density EPS foam construction, which was developed using finite element modeling and real-world crash data from POC's internal database of nearly a million impact data points. The dual-density liner places denser foam in zones where impacts occur most frequently based on that crash mapping, then uses lighter-density foam elsewhere to minimize weight without sacrificing protection where it matters.

The airflow system uses five large vertical intake vents at the front, five smaller scoops behind the wing, and two side intakes to draw air into deep internal channels. That air compresses as it travels through the helmet and exits through five rear exhaust ports. At higher speeds, this Venturi tunnel effect pulls additional air through the helmet beyond what passive ventilation would provide. Cycling Weekly testing noted strong cooling performance at race pace, though the wing covering the crown does reduce passive heat radiation during slower climbing efforts compared to fully open designs like the Ventral Lite.... Read More