The Abus GameChanger aero cycling helmet has been a fixture on the Movistar team's head since 2017 and has since been used by Alpecin Deceuninck while also Canyon brand. Now Abus has released an updated version that it says has improved aerodynamics and ventilation.

Gone are the perforated side pieces of the Giro Synte and in its place is a large slotted vent above the forehead, an eyebrow vent that Abus says increases airflow to the front of the helmet by 32%.

The rear vents have also been improved, with a redesigned larger star-shaped exit port that Abus claims improves exhaust airflow by 20% over the previous model. The internal air channels have also been redesigned to take advantage of the Venturi effect to accelerate airflow.

According to Abus, the redesigned vents make it easier to wear sunglasses on either the front or rear vents of the helmet.

Abus' modification of the Aeroblade, located at the rear of the top of the helmet, is also said to help the helmet vent air more efficiently. The Aeroblade is also involved in the aerodynamics of the helmet, and according to Abus, the helmet has been fine-tuned for a typical professional riding speed of between 46 km/h and 52 km/h and a more head-down riding position than GameChanger's version 1. The company has made adjustments. [The GameChanger 2.0 has an extended Kamm-tail at the rear of the helmet that aerodynamically acts like a helmet that is 11 percent longer than the previous model. The trailing edge of the kamm-tail has been lowered by 8 percent to accommodate the typical posture of a rider lowering his head in a drop.

Avus has been slower than its competitors to add MIPS and other rotational impact technologies to its high-end road helmets, but the Game Changer 2.0 can be equipped with the optional MIPS Air Node. This incorporates MIPS sliding plane technology into the helmet's internal padding support, which is lighter than the original MIPS plastic liner and interferes less with the internal airflow.

Abus has also tweaked the strap design, with a new wider anchor at the V where the two 12mm wide straps meet to help the helmet stay in the optimal position. the MIPS version of GameChanger 2.0 features a Fidlock magnetic buckle. This buckle is used in some of the best road bike helmets and, according to Abus, is especially useful for triathletes who want to switch bike legs quickly.

Finally, the new helmet can be fitted with Abus' QUIN crash detector. Like Specialized's ANGi helmet mount system and many good cycle computers, this uses an accelerometer to detect potential crashes. It then connects to the Abus smartphone app via Bluetooth, and the phone sends an alert with the coordinates to a designated contact.

Abus says the GameChanger 2.0 comes in three sizes, weighing between 260 g and 275 g. The MIPS helmet is available in four colors, priced at £279.99 / €299.99. If MIPS is not selected, the color range increases to 11 colors, priced at 239. The price drops to £99 / €279.99.