Pro bike racing requires an awful lot of equipment. From spare bikes to spare wheels, to chainrings, tires, helmets, clothing, bar tape, and bottles, riders need it all on hand, and that’s not factoring in what the mechanics need to maintain this equipment, nor the soigneurs, sports directors and other staff.
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With the majority of the racing calendar taking place in Europe, teams can base their Service Course somewhere on the continent, and drive a truck between the races, with everything they could ever need inside.
However with the UCI calendar including more races in Australia, the Middle East, and Asia every year, so-called 'fly-away racing' is a growing logistical challenge and something the teams have to plan for and execute properly for their riders to perform well.
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With baggage restrictions, weight limits and the vast distance this gear needs to be moved, it creates a complex problem for the teams.
“We have a big scale in our Service Course in Europe, and we had to pack things up and weigh it all out before we left for Australia," Henk van Lijsdonk, mechanic at Dimension Data tells us. "We were able to bring 430kg total, and we came within 500g of the limit. Those last few grams were pretty stressful.”
'You're bringing how much?'
Excess baggage
Suncream and nutritional needs
Camaraderie in the pits
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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