Cycling: He is beaming, has a jersey on and – of course – a helmet on his huge head. The mascot for the 2018 World Cycling Championships in Innsbruck is called Helmi and is an old friend. He is a TV star and his career has surpassed Alejandro Valverde's.
Helmi as a role model for road safety
He is the superhero of security. The radiant man has been a real cult figure for over 35 years. Although Helmi has been on TV for more than three decades and is therefore also well known to the older generation, his main focus is actually on young people. It is intended to teach children about safety when cycling.
Martin Pfanner from the Board of Trustees for Road Safety:
"There couldn't be a more appropriate mascot for the World Cycling Championships than Helmi. His unmistakable trademark is the helmet, which is always part of cycling. It stands for safety in traffic - this should be conveyed to both children and adults. There is still a lot of catching up to do in Austria with regard to the wearing of bike helmets. Helmi and the cycling athletes act as strong role models here.”
The World Cycling Championships are intended to encourage participation
Of course, Helmi appeals primarily to small children. But that is exactly what a mascot is intended for. But since he is also known to the older generation in Austria, they too are automatically included in the target group.
George Spazier, Managing Director of the Innsbruck-Tirol Rad WM 2018 GmbH:
"With Helmi as the face of the World Cycling Championships, we not only reach children who are just learning about road safety, but also many adults who have known him since they were children. On the one hand, we want to motivate people to cycle and on the other hand to actively participate on the route - regardless of whether it is a creative project by a school class next to the route or a club initiative. The World Cycling Championships should encourage participation.”
Stefan Denifl is looking forward to the local cycling world championships
Around 22 drivers and 30 spectators are expected in Innsbruck between September 1.000nd and 500.000th - a number that pushes even a city used to tourism like Innsbruck to its limits. The route takes professionals through the regions of Alpbachtal, Hall-Wattens, Ötztal and Kufsteinerland/Kaiserwinkl. The home stretch is in front of the Hofburg in Innsbruck. Stefan Denifl, who sensationally won the last year, would also like to be there 17th stage of the Vuelta a Espana won.
Stefan Denifl:
“I'm really looking forward to starting in front of my home crowd. I hope the World Cycling Championships can motivate even more for cycling here in Germany. Who knows, maybe a future cyclist will complete the youth traffic school today.”
comeback of the year 😊#Helmi is the mascot of the Road World Championships 2018 (September 22-30.9) in Innsbruck-Tyrol. pic.twitter.com/XIIXD54ks8
— Bernhard Kastler (@Bern_Kast) March 22, 2018
Source of the title picture: Innsbruck-Tirol Rad-WM 2018 GmbH