Dan Martin’s WWF bamboo-themed helmet for the Tour of Beijing

Following his win in the Tour of Lombardy last weekend, Garmin-Sharp rider Dan Martin will compete in the Tour of Beijing (10-14 October) wearing a specially painted POC Octal helmet with a bamboo theme. 

Produced by the Worldwide Wildlife Fund (WWF), the helmet will feature a unique bamboo theme to commemorate the team's partnership with the charity, a partnership which stems from the 2013 Liège-Bastogne-Liège when Martin was chased up the road by a person dressed as a Panda.

The special design was produced by East London-based designer Steve Edge and the helmet will be auctioned off after the tour to raise money for global conservation.

Garmin-Sharp and WWF teamed up at the beginning of the season, a partnership inspired by the moment Dan Martin was famously chased up up the road in the 2013 Liège-Bastogne-Liège race, a race which Martin won. Since that moment the Panda has become the team’s mascot and they’ve been using it regularly through social media. The WWF logo, which of course features a Panda, was added to the team’s jersey this season.

Photos © Team Garmin-Sharp and © Adrian Cockle / WWF-Canon