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Here’s your complete behind the scenes tour at the 2024 Tour de France time trial stage, focused on sports technology like power meters, smart trainers, bike computers, laundry machines, and plenty more!
The Tour de France is in full swing, and with it, a few days ago, the time trial stage. That’s always an interesting opportunity to check out which sports tech riders are using, such as bike computers, trainers, as well as things like laundry machines and fans (the swirling variety, not the screaming variety).
In the above video give a walk-through of the entire team/technical zone (called the paddock), where I show how it all works. From the warm-up routines/schedules, to each step along the way from warm-up to the starting gate (including UCI checks, additional warm-up trainers at the starting gate, and more). And obviously, we talk pineapples too.
Now when it comes to Tour de France stages, they’re basically in two core buckets: Regular stages and Time Trial Stages. I suppose there’s now gravel stages too, but, we’ll keep things simple. These two buckets employ different bikes, and we see teams use additional equipment not typically used on a road stage. For example, very few riders will warm-up for a regular road stage – since the warm-up is built-in to the 10KM or so of the race. Some teams will use trainers for a cool-down after a stage though.
Likewise, when it comes to bikes, being different bikes we often see different groupset configurations used, as well as different bike computers and bike computer mounts used. For example, at this year’s time trial stage I saw even more teams using the tiny (and old) Garmin Edge 130 Plus than any previous time trial stages.
If you’re looking for marginal gains at the absolute pointy end of this TT, I suppose saving a few grams and possible aero hit, in this area makes sense. Of course, sometimes it’s just logically easier to fit mount-wise within the aerobar gap space.
Of course, the use of TT bikes means this isn’t a good stage to take a closer look at which bike computers teams are normally using. And likewise, which power meters companies are normally using. Most of the power meter pieces do line-up to their team Shimano/SRAM sponsorships, with an exception for one team on SRM (Team UAE). There are 15 teams on Shimano, 4 teams on SRAM, and 3 teams split on FSA or SRM.
But on normal road stages, you’ll also be able to sometimes sneak a look at which Shimano teams are putting power meter pedals on there to get more accurate data. Teams continue pressure Shimano in this area, and outside of visible races where people like me take photos of bikes, many Shimano-equipped teams and riders are using power meter pedals for more accurate training power data.
At first glance I saw the long-available Elite Direto XR, but then I noticed the “Team Edition” sticker. I figured that was just a random marketing thing since it was with the team, but after texting with Elite, turns out, that’s actually a legit new edition of the Elite Direto XR with new software features.
Specifically, this new Elite Direto XR Team Edition will feature: Race Mode (10Hz data transfer), Shimano Di2 Trainer Control, Pain Break, and Standalone Mode. It’ll be available exclusively at Decathlon later this summer. A clever partnership, and cool to see Elite add those features in.
Beyond that, we saw Tacx kit out some of their teams with the Tacx NEO 3M, but others were on the Tacx NEO 2T. As usual, Tacx had skinned their trainers (NEO 3M units) for teams currently holding title jersey’s, like the KOM/sprinter/etc jerseys.
#TourDeFrance #Cycling #TdF
28 Comments
Crap tidbits for the win
Best TdF behind the scenes video I have seen to date…outstanding!
Ray, are you going to do one of these for the TDF Femmes TT again? What do you think about their tiny Rotterdam loop?
Thanks Ray!
That was a load of crap 😂
I really enjoy your videos, Ray! Outstanding work. Thanks!
Did you get any free team bottles?
How much maybe has Stages demise influenced the power meter usage? I remember when they sponsored a team in the Tour.
Excellent video! love seeing behind the scenes
Do they use the edge 130 for the weight savings or is there another reason?
Why are shimano power viewed as inaccurate? DC's review of the Rally seems to say they are accurate. Is it just the crank-based power?
Can someone explain why they are using 11speed cassettes on the trainer. Do they run 11 speed on the tt bikes?
Think of all the things you could hide over the Colnago bottom bracket…
the brand who paid him the most
I would really like a review on fans with the db (noise level) on full blast and at what frequency in Hz. I like to play tempo music as I Zwift and with 3 fan that I currently use it can be quite noisy.
At 2:51 are those Garmin Tacx NEO 2 Models
It'd be cool to be able to buy one of those nameplates that go on the front of the car. After a brief search I couldn't find anything. Even a replica would be nice.
UCI causing the usual nuisance.
Sewage pump out … Ray keeping us up to date on all the latest sh*t at the TdF.
What are the washing mashine sponsorships of the peloton?
Great BTS video! Very cool to see how things are done by each team.
4:20 the blind man is making sure everything stays in place… eheheh
Đi ngủ ngon nhe em ngủ ngon nha
Maybe slow down your commentary a little, its difficult to follow, you are a bit too excited!
its funny cause all bikers are on PEDs but the bikes are what are being checked
The shit truck craps me up
Interesting, many racers not wearing gloves. Pretty rare when I was racing 20+ years ago.
Fantastic video, really informative. Well done!