Neutral Service car

natrix

Tour de France question. Mavic provide a neutral service car to supply wheels in the case of a puncture. Now that's fairly straight forward for a front wheel, but what about the back wheels? Do they have a selection with campag, shimano etc freewheels fitted? What about gear ratios, do they change the ratios on the spare wheels for a day in the mountains?

Yorkman

They have a selection of rear wheels to suit all bikes, if the cassette isn't ideal then you use what they have, and wait for your team car to switch it over again or make do with what they give you.

Titanium

They even have different sized bikes with toe straps on the pedals so anyone can use them. But I can't remember the last time someone actually took a wheel from these guys, they only go in the gap if it's under 30 seconds and if this is the case, a wheel change means you lose enough time to get caught. They also carry water and food too but the same applies, you just don't have time to use them.

iainf72

Titanium wrote:

But I can't remember the last time someone actually took a wheel from these guys, they only go in the gap if it's under 30 seconds and if this is the case, a wheel change means you lose enough time to get caught.

The obvious one which springs to mind was Contador in the Alps during the 07 Tour de France. But I can't recall many others using it.

Always amuses me to see the clips and straps on the bikes.

schlepcycling

They also have a neutral service motorbike with a guy sitting on the back holding a bunch of spare wheels for those occasions where the car can't get through.