Let’s take a peek behind the scenes. What all goes on at a Grand Tour race that spectators don’t see?

Stage races aren’t merely a group of cyclists deciding on the spur of the moment to race each other to the next coffee shop. Just as a lot goes on behind the scenes in the theatre, a stage race has a lot going on behind the scenes to keep the race up and running.

The directeur sportif has a big job on his hands. It sounds like he (or maybe she) has to keep track of many aspects of the race at the same time.

The chef/nutritionist, too, has a big job. Not only the riders, but everybody else connected with the team needs to be fed. In particular, the riders are eating practically every minute that they’re awake. They have to, in order to keep fueled; even though they reach the point where continuing to eat feels like force-feeding.

Mechanics keep all the bicycles clean and in running order. Considering that each rider is likely to have several bicycles, that’s a LOT of work!

Coaches’ work, I guess, is largely done by the time of the Grand Depart. They’re the ones whose guidance hones a rider’s fitness, technique, and so on.

The bus driver gets the team from the end of one stage to the beginning of the next. Then there are the soigneurs, team doctors, etcetera. It’s definitely a full cast!