Tour de France: Sports Tech & Behind The Scenes!

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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

[@gilleek2]

Crap tidbits for the win

[@aslam7952]

Love the way Ray does his sponsorships. No overhyping products or promoting brands that he reviews.

[@ShawnIsBatman]

Best TdF behind the scenes video I have seen to date...outstanding!

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks!

[@bengt_axle]

They should have a fan zone for the fans.

[@Dcrainmaker]

Well played...

[@JustSueMe]

They should call it "OnlyFans", since it's exclusive to the fans😂

[@stevenb.o.2767]

I like how you look at the logistics around the tour as well. As always a pleasure and highly anticipates video. Thank you.

[@Carftymk]

soudal uses the same 20€ lidl high tech dryer i had as a student

[@IslandLife-if5zy]

Really nice coverage. Great job getting into the details we never see or hear about.

[@klpumper]

I really enjoy your videos, Ray! Outstanding work. Thanks!

[@DUBBLARON]

Yes! Thank you!

[@AndrewButlerPhoto]

Fantastic video, really informative. Well done!

[@jeremys24]

super interesting! followed the tour for years but hadn't seen a behind the scenes tt edition before, thanks!

[@hildybean]

Thanks Ray!

[@benjammind]

Excellent video! love seeing behind the scenes

[@getoutmore]

Love these videos thanks ❤

[@mark9328]

Great BTS video! Very cool to see how things are done by each team.

[@jaibhardwaj4886]

we need more of these videos!

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks!

[@GordonMoat]

Sewage pump out … Ray keeping us up to date on all the latest sh*t at the TdF.

[@Papa-Bogey]

I had to rewind the “fan” segment three times. Sorry, early AM in NJ, slow on the uptake and I haven’t had my first cup of coffee yet …😂

[@RoadBikeCC]

Cheers DC 🖖

[@BrewsGamesRides]

The pineapple is working! 👍 Love these videos every year.

[@randyandkeri]

Fantastic content.

[@jpmanso]

Great inside view, looking forward for a normal road stage

[@jimpeyton1459]

Oh, and another thing: TPC rocks. Sold an old Cannondale CAADX for store credit and my participating LBS. Whole process painless with the LBS doing the packup/sending the bike to TPC. Store credit went to purchasing new gravel bike from LBS.

[@guzz95]

Great video, got crappy at the end! 😂

[@avibank]

Crazy that these new trainers aren't fully or at least partially battery powered like the Neo. Such an underrated feature.

[@user-iz8mu5uj8v]

The "Crap Truck" made my day..........Like and Subscribe..........Always my favorite!

[@dbranc0]

4:20 the blind man is making sure everything stays in place... eheheh

[@jimpeyton1459]

Great stuff Ray, love these behind the scenes videos. You mentioned some riders may be using pedal power meters from non- sponsors....did you see any Favero Assioma pedals...on road bikes obviously. Thanks as always.

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks! I didn't see any Favero there. There is I believe a women's TdF team that has them, but nothing on the men's side. They're a bit harder to get away with in a hidden aspect, due to the pods.

[@tomconway6808]

@@Dcrainmaker I wonder if they're going to eventually update their road pedals to use the spindles from the PRO MX's. Although I guess if they did that they would lose pedal body compatibility.

[@WrapMyBike]

Those wrapped smart trainers and bike computers look on point! 😎 We are of course completely neutral when we say this 😉 Great video Ray! Looking forward to more tech and hidden gems from this year's Tour.

[@michaelpolakowski7301]

It's a bit hard to read, but from what I can tell (@ 1:48), Gaviria's start time was too early to eat at the hotel, so he had lunch at the Snack Bus. Any chance you can get some more info on the Snack Bus? It sounds like a great place to hang out.

[@foxjam]

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.

[@hernanhernandez3861]

Interesting, many racers not wearing gloves. Pretty rare when I was racing 20+ years ago.

[@guidovonohlen738]

The team cars put lots of bikes on the roof, to push more air forward behind the rider.

[@jeff_aurand]

That's why the follow distance regulation changed a few years ago. After that Ganna TT when the Ineos car was a solid wall of bikes and they were practically on his wheel. They need to stay 15 meters back instead of 10. Although 15 still seems questionable.

[@lidarman2]

How much maybe has Stages demise influenced the power meter usage? I remember when they sponsored a team in the Tour.

[@chopsuey33]

0:33 What company makes those washer and dryer , @dcrainmaker ?

[@mfowler4651]

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.

[@loulew07]

At 2:51 are those Garmin Tacx NEO 2 Models

[@MrR1ma]

Ray, are you going to do one of these for the TDF Femmes TT again? What do you think about their tiny Rotterdam loop?

[@Dcrainmaker]

Yup, I’ll be there! The mini TT thing is definitely unique, but keep in mind there’s two stages that day!

[@tw1npe4ks]

When there will be international shipping in TPC?

[@Dcrainmaker]

As much as I'd love to say 'tomorrow', that's realistically gonna be tough (given the expensive logistics of bidirectional stuff). Though, you can always do what I did...swing by their Boulder-area facility and pick-up the bike at their front door (they have a small shop there too, plus a neat museum collection of pro bikes). :)

[@NathanBudd]

Do you see many mechanics calibrating the power meters before the riders go off?

[@ahhalla]

Could you make a list of the power meter each team uses?

[@Dcrainmaker]

Yup! Coming up. It's a bit messier to do at the TT stage, because sometimes we see slight differences in the groupset configurations due to the TT bikes. Usually it's 95% the same, but I'd hate to miss the 5% that are swapped/missing. Plus, the regular stages allow me to find the fun teams that have power meter pedals when they aren't "supposed to". ;)

[@ahhalla]

@@Dcrainmaker Fantastic!

[@wesleycwagner]

Think of all the things you could hide over the Colnago bottom bracket...

[@Eirikkinserdal]

Took some seconds to get the "fan" pun 😂

[@rein2523]

FYI the red vehicles are not for VIPs but for race jury. The black ones are tho.

[@Dcrainmaker]

My understanding is that the backseats are still for VIP's (you can actually see some getting in the red car at 10:42). Cheers!

[@jimpeyton1459]

​@@Dcrainmaker did you get a VIP ride???

[@rein2523]

There are not 15 teams sponsored by Shimano. Most of them use their groupsets but are not sponsored and use different powermeter. The sponsored teams are: - Alpecin - FDJ - INEOS -Soudal Quickstep - DSM That's all. For example if you noticed at 16:00 Pogacar was using SRM instead of Shimano.

[@Dcrainmaker]

SRM is the singular example of a power meter sponsorship pre-existing the Shimano drivetrain sponsorship. Shimano also has two levels of sponsorships, one being outright sponsoring of compenents on a team (for compensation). The secondary being giving groupsets to cover it (more common on the women's side). However, there are a number of teams not on those 5 above that are upset about the Shimano accuracy issues, but are being told by Shimano they aren't allowed to use other power meters, per contracts.

[@rein2523]

@@Dcrainmaker Interesting! Thanks!

[@rein2523]

@@Dcrainmaker BTW interesting that UAE is using different chainrings and rotors tho!

[@alfrede.newman1838]

Question: a few years ago when I followed the Tour for a few Stages I saw journalists and teams with 'race books' where each Stage had complete race details for the Teams (start, elevations, ...). It was quite a thick book published by the TDF organizers. Is there somewhere to get a copy of that book so we all can better for the Stages?

[@Dcrainmaker]

Yup, they're great. Still love that it's paper. If you do some quick googling for it, you'll find it pretty easily.

[@alfrede.newman1838]

@@Dcrainmaker I know there's a 'UK' and an 'Australian' edition, but I was looking for the books the teams on the Tour use. I'm still looking but is there a chance you could suggest a key phrase or words to Google search on? Many thanks

[@almosh]

What are the washing mashine sponsorships of the peloton?

[@stuartmclean3843]

It's OK checking fir motors etc but when I rider does a bike swap mid race wether its planned or due to a supossed "mechanical" it kinda makes the pre race check obsolete 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@HobbyHoarder]

They also check a lot of the bike after the race and if I remember correctly, winners and jersey holders get checked every time, regardless.

[@Dcrainmaker]

@@HobbyHoarder Correct. They hold/check the winner bikes (using the NFC tags on every bike), plus *all* bikes are inventoried pre-race with the non-removable tags for tracking, and then randomly/periodically checked as well. It's not a perfect system, but it makes it just difficult/messy enough that it's not worth it anymore for the teams (I fall in the camp of strongly believing motors have likely been used in the TdF in some past years).

[@LarsRyeJeppesen]

No

[@adamweb]

Why do they even have a clothes dryer with the washer? Isn't 99% of cycling gear line dry only anyway?

[@jeff_aurand]

For you and I. For kit that only needs to last a (partial) season why not tumble it on low or no heat to speed up the drying process. Same logic for them using power washers on the bikes.

[@puppet-head]

What was the bag over the jockey wheels on that trainer for?

[@thooht]

Aerodynamics

[@Insertnombre]

Do they use the edge 130 for the weight savings or is there another reason?

[@Dcrainmaker]

Partially weight, partially size (fits better in aero bars), and partially slightly better aerodynamics (but that really depends on numerous factors).

[@peterago1082]

its like i'm watching an auction

[@timetrialist]

Did you get any free team bottles?

[@RyonBeachner]

Is the Lidl Trek Pineapple thing a swingers joke? Or am I a pervert and there’s a gap in certain subculture signaling between the US and Europe? 😂

[@ericsleeth]

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?

[@Dcrainmaker]

Rally is a Garmin power meter, which is accurate. Shimano makes their own power meter that’s inaccurate.

[@brentcharlton1065]

They doing trace testing off of that crap truck? 😂

[@winstonbeede9782]

Can someone explain why they are using 11speed cassettes on the trainer. Do they run 11 speed on the tt bikes?

[@Dcrainmaker]

My guess is that because the NEO 2T (and 3M) came with 11sp, they were just two busy to swap out and riders are in ERG mode anyway where it doesn't matter. Or, alternatively, they have actually swapped to 12sp, but never re-wrote things. I didn't count cogs.

[@PedroDivisez]

all goes down to a crap in the end :D

[@bighammer3464]

16:06 what mad lad writes their 1s to look like cursive I?

[@HeyWattsUpCycling]

the tech is all run of the mill stuff. I wanna hear more about the entire med/drug/supplement stack everyones on. even some random guy at the back of the pack.

[@BrianKellison]

💩👍

[@user-bc8vt6fx8h]

Đi ngủ ngon nhe em ngủ ngon nha

[@-es2bf]

the brand who paid him the most

[@englishorchard-haze4708]

It's the same with GCN, usually the dearest stuff.

[@trbeyond]

That was a load of crap 😂

[@ipaxton]

The shit truck craps me up

[@mioumitsou]

its funny cause all bikers are on PEDs but the bikes are what are being checked

[@neilfurby555]

Maybe slow down your commentary a little, its difficult to follow, you are a bit too excited!

[@peterago1082]

can you talk slower its like your speed reading, take a breath and slow down

[@vasusharma28]

Can you learn to understand faster? 🤷

[@blakietaverna8354]

I’m watching it at x1.25 speed 😂😂

[@Eirikkinserdal]

Just slow it down man 😅

[@alexsinbb]

DCR lives in Spain. Probably just trying to keep up with locals.

[@SonnyDarvishzadeh]

@@vasusharma28 That's a very ableist comment.

[@stevenf4511]

UCI causing the usual nuisance.