POC Cytal series: Race-ready road helmets
The Cytal series forms part of POC's road cycling and racing helmet collection, designed through collaboration with professional cyclists to balance protection, aerodynamic efficiency and ventilation. Each model, from the versatile Cytal to the ultralight Cytal Lite, integrates specific technical features to meet the varied demands of competitive road cycling, optimising performance and protection.
Modern road racing demands helmets that perform across a spectrum of conditions, from high-speed descents to gruelling climbs in intense heat. Our Cytal series addresses these challenges by applying our holistic design philosophy, The Whole Helmet Concept™. In this concept, safety, aerodynamics and comfort are integrated from the very beginning of the design process. This process, refined through insights from EF Pro Cycling, ensures each Cytal model provides specific performance advantages in different scenarios, helping riders maintain focus and optimise performance.
The POC Cytal series: An overview
The POC Cytal helmet series comprises three models engineered for distinct advantages. The models are the aero-focused POC Cytal Carbon, the versatile all-rounder POC Cytal, and the lightweight POC Cytal Lite. While each model shares core technologies for safety and protection, they are individually optimised for aerodynamics, balanced performance, or minimal weight.
This structure provides specific solutions for the varied demands of professional road racing. The Cytal, in particular, earned the top safety rating from independent testing laboratory Virginia Tech at launch, and delivers a balanced performance profile for everyday racing and training.
Design philosophy: Whole Helmet Concept™ and FEM
Every POC helmet is developed using our Whole Helmet Concept™, a design philosophy that treats the helmet as a unified system rather than a collection of separate parts. This approach ensures that the shell, liner, rotational protection, ventilation and fit systems are engineered in concert, working together optimally. We take this approach because we believe it leads to improved real-world protection.
We use the Finite Element Method (FEM) to simulate and analyse how different materials and designs interact under various impact conditions. This advanced computational technique allows our in-house engineers in the POC Lab team to predict structural integrity and impact energy absorption with greater accuracy. It also gives the chance to iterate on designs virtually before physical prototyping. FEM was crucial in optimising EPS (expanded polystyrene) liner density in each of the three helmets in the Cytal series.
Advanced ventilation and aerodynamics
Effective ventilation is critical for maintaining performance under pressure. In developing each helmet in the Cytal series, principles like the Venturi effect are used to manage airflow efficiently. Air is channelled through the helmet, accelerating it and drawing heat away from the head. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis is used to refine every vent and surface, ensuring the balance between speed and cooling is optimised for typical conditions in the pro peloton.
Verified safety performance
All models in the Cytal series meet or exceed the requirements of the CE EN 1078 standard in Europe and the CPSC 1203 standard in the USA. Both the Cytal and Cytal Carbon models also received a 5-star rating upon release from independent testing experts Virginia Tech. At release, the Cytal ranked first among road-specific helmets on Virginia Tech’s list.
Model comparison: Cytal Carbon, Cytal Lite and Cytal
The Cytal series offers three distinct models, each tailored to specific rider needs within competitive road cycling. While sharing a common design philosophy, they diverge in materials and focus to optimise performance for different scenarios.
POC Cytal Carbon
Built for speed, the Cytal Carbon elevates aerodynamic performance while maintaining a high level of protection. It features a unique handmade carbon fibre wing with a Koridion core that increases structural stability and enhances ventilation at high speeds. The helmet is optimised for efficiency at higher speeds, making it an ideal choice on race day.
POC Cytal Lite
The Cytal Lite prioritises minimal weight and maximum ventilation. Weighing under 200g (size M, CE standard), it achieves its featherweight status through a scaled-back shell, an optimised EPS liner, and lightweight internal comfort padding and fit systems. It is the natural choice for elite climbers and racing in extreme heat.
POC Cytal
The versatile heart of the series, the Cytal is engineered for all-round performance. It provides a finely tuned balance of aerodynamic efficiency, lightweight comfort, and independently verified protection. Its design features a dual-density EPS liner and an integrated aerodynamic wing for optimised airflow. The helmet is an ideal choice for the demands of daily training and varied race conditions.
Real-world testing and athlete feedback
Our product development process relies heavily on real-world testing and athlete feedback to refine and validate our designs. Our long-standing partnership with EF Pro Cycling is a cornerstone of this approach. More than a sponsorship arrangement, this collaboration functions as a continuous feedback loop. Riders who regularly face the most demanding conditions of WorldTour racing provide detailed, first-hand insights into performance, comfort and real-world safety.
The development of the Cytal series directly benefited from this process. By integrating professional insights into the development process, we refined every feature, from ventilation channel placement to retention system design, to address the practical needs of elite cyclists.
A rigorous process
Road racing asks different things of a helmet at different moments. Speed on the flat, weight on the climb, cooling in the heat. The Cytal series was built to answer each of those demands without compromise. From the all-round Cytal to the featherweight Cytal Lite, every model is the result of the same rigorous process: evidence gathered at race pace, tested in WorldTour conditions, and refined tirelessly to balance comfort, performance, and safety. Explore the full range of POC road cycling helmets.
The Cytal helmet achieved a five-star rating from Virginia Tech and was ranked first among road-specific helmets at the time of its testing. This result stems from its dual-density EPS liner, integrated Mips Air Node, and a design philosophy that prioritizes protection across a range of real-world impact scenarios.
The Cytal Carbon is optimised for aerodynamic efficiency. It integrates a handmade carbon fibre wing and Koridion core that improve structural stiffness and airflow at high speeds (around 50 km/h). This makes it the ideal choice for breakaways and flat, fast stages, whereas the standard Cytal offers a more balanced performance profile for varied terrain.
The Cytal Lite is certified to required safety standards, including CE EN 1078 and US CPSC 1203. Its design prioritises minimal weight and maximum ventilation for climbing and hot weather.
Every helmet in the POC Cytal series meets or exceeds both European CE EN 1078 and US CPSC 1203 safety standards. Furthermore, the Cytal was ranked first among road-specific helmets in independent testing laboratory Virginia Tech’s listings at the time of its release.
The Cytal series uses advanced aerodynamic features including an integrated wing and the Venturi effect to manage cooling. Strategically designed internal channels and large front vents pull air into the helmet, guide it over the rider's head to collect heat and expel it through large rear exhaust ports. This creates active cooling without a significant aerodynamic penalty.