Just how much kit do you need to ride the World’s biggest race?

A race like the Tour de France sees almost 200 riders spend more than three weeks away from home. Unlike a training camp, or even a vacation, almost every night of those three weeks is spent in a different hotel room, in a different town. With each day spent riding upwards of 200km in all weathers, and riders constantly representing their sponsors, exactly how much stuff do they have to take with them?

Cofidis’ technical and partners director Fabrice Vanoli outlines the equipment each of the French team’s riders needs and what, besides their personal effects, they will have in their Tour de France suitcases.

“We have to carry, for the three weeks, five bikes per rider,” explains Vanoli. “Three road bikes [Look 595] and two time trial bikes [Look 496]. The Vision wheels will be chosen by each rider: aluminium, carbon low-profile or 50mm carbon high-profile. For time trials they have a choice of a rear disc or a pair of 88mm high-profile wheels.”

Altogether, that’s a total of 45 bikes!

In addition to the riders’ bikes this, says Vanoli, is what each will be carrying with them:

Helmets (by BBB):
 1 Falcon road helmet
1 Tribase time trial helmet.

Race clothing (by Nalini):
 4 short-sleeved jerseys
4 pairs of bibshorts
1 pair of shorts
2 time trial skinsuits (1 short-sleeved, 1 long-sleeved)
10 pairs of socks
5 pairs of summer gloves
2 windproof gilets
1 winter jacket
1 pair of lycra time trial overshoes

Casual clothing (Roadsign)
 1 tracksuit
4 T-shirts
2 polo shirts
1 sweatshirt
2 short-sleeved shirts
1 fleece vest
1 pair of jeans
1 pair of shoes “Mode”
1 pair of shoes “Sport”

As well as all the gear the riders have in their own suitcases, each one will have a small “rain bag” which will stay in the director sportif’s car. This will contain:
1 waterproof jacket
1 sleeveless waterproof jacket
1 pair of legwarmers
1 pair of armwarmers
1 pair of winter gloves
1 pair of rain gloves
1 wind proof jacket
1 pair of cycling shoes

To transport all of these bikes, riders and all the directors and support staff around the entire country the team also needs a plethora of vehicles:
2 director sportif’s cars
3 physio’s cars
1 press officer’s car
1 public relations car
1 19-tonne truck to transport all the bikes and equipment
1 team bus to transport the riders between stages
1 van to transport all the consumables (‘bidons’, energy food and drinks etc.)

All the riders have to do is to ride their bikes!