The Incredible Logistics Of The Tour De France

The Incredible Logistics Of The Tour De France | Inside Neutral Service

Рет қаралды 118,837

Күн бұрын

Ever wondered how neutral service teams coordinate during the chaos of the Tour de France? From flat tyres to mechanical failures, they're prepared to handle emergencies at a moment's notice and provide essential support to all riders! How do they stay so alert and efficient throughout the race? Join Dan to find out how neutral service - the unsung heroes of the Tour de France - actually operate during the race!
In collaboration with @RideShimano 🤝 www.shimano.com/en/
00:00 How does neutral service do it?
00:59 What does neutral service provide?
03:43 How many pedal systems does neutral service have to accommodate?
04:48 Does neutral service specifically set bikes up for “star” riders?
05:23 Telemetry system (NTT)
07:39 What have been your favourite moments in providing this support?
10:02 How many bottles do you have?
10:22 Complications with different wheels
12:07 France Neutral Service
12:46 How many bikes & wheels does France Neutral Service provide?
14:56 Neutral service is vital!
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Пікірлер: 209

@gcn 18 күн бұрын

Would you like to work for Shimano Neutral Service? 👀

@bremnet1812 18 күн бұрын

I'd love to be a part of that team. How does one apply?

@bikecommuter24 17 күн бұрын

after 46 years of being a mechanic I'm retired although part of me would love to give it a go I'm the sure the Adrenaline kicks in at crunch time.

@cardboardcrawlersrc8805 15 күн бұрын

Dream job.

@peterdraper1478 14 күн бұрын

If you saw the state of my garage you would know better than ask....

@WiltshireLeopard 13 күн бұрын

I’ll be the driver

@secretounum1123 18 күн бұрын

I'd love to see a similar video about the camera operator on the back of the motorcycles. ❤

@goldenretriever6261 17 күн бұрын

I'd like to see a video about the motorcycle drivers. They have to be very skilled to follow riders down the mountains with a cameraman on the back.

@D34dlyTidsy 17 күн бұрын

Great idea

@alexpeartree2019 17 күн бұрын

@@goldenretriever6261and getting bollocked by Cab for being in the way! 😂

@JGCycling 15 күн бұрын

Same

@gcn 14 күн бұрын

That could be cool! We would love to do more behind the scenes videos 🙌

@zygmuntthecacaokakistocrat6589 17 күн бұрын

Having worked as a neutral service mechanic for about 20 years, on and off, you're only ever 2nd choice: riders always look for their team car first, and you quite often get blamed for not having the exactly correct thing they need, at exactly the moment they need it. But sometimes you receive the gratitude that makes the job worth doing. I've been sworn at and had things thrown at me by wound-up prima donnas of both sexes (they get slow wheel changes ever after those sorts of dummy spits) , but also, bottles of champagne, cakes, gift bags & team kit given to me by grateful riders who I've helped to a better finish than they expected. It's a funny little niche of the cycling world.

@zeiss72 17 күн бұрын

Awesome! Would love to hear some of your stories.

@jonasvieth 15 күн бұрын

Just out of interest what tire pressures do you prepare? Especially for races like Roubaix.

@vipergtsrgt1 14 күн бұрын

This was the first thing I thought about before even seeing your reply. The way I've seen neutral service treated sometimes is pretty abysmal. Like you said, a lot of riders don't even want it. We do have a stage race here where two of the stages are on tight circuits where team cars are not allowed. For those stages, neutral service is critical.

@michaellarkin6158 15 сағат бұрын

i get why a pro rider may not want neutral service but jesus no need to treat them with disrespect

@oatmonster 18 күн бұрын

Outfitting the neutral bikes with dropper posts for quick saddle height adjustment is super clever!

@gcn 15 күн бұрын

Would you ride one of these? 👀

@2001MBKBooster 18 күн бұрын

I really enjoy these types of videos. The insights into the behind-the-scenes logistics are appreciated.

@gcn 15 күн бұрын

The logistics are super impressive! 🤯

@francesstager997 17 күн бұрын

Konstanza is a SHINING STAR!!! I am truly impressed! Cheers to the TEAM!!

@jamieswann4176 15 күн бұрын

My favourite sort of GCN video, love to see the background content!

@gcn 15 күн бұрын

We love brining our audience along with us to the wider cycling world 🙌

@dazza9129 18 күн бұрын

Imagine winning a stage using a neutral bike. Must be an awesome achievement.

@gcn 18 күн бұрын

Would be so cool 🙌

@Baerinho 17 күн бұрын

Michael Rogers won the Tour down under i think in 2002ish on a spectators bike. There is video on youtube with the original commentary, its hilarious, spectator is jsut there, randomly, with i think even the same bike model

@morosis82 17 күн бұрын

@@Baerinhoyeah it was almost exactly the same bike I think, even the right size frame but slightly different saddle height I believe. Got a pic with the guy and his bike after the race.

@kaspershaupt 17 күн бұрын

@@Baerinho importantly the same petels one of the wildest coincidences in sports

@zygmuntthecacaokakistocrat6589 17 күн бұрын

The dropper post is much better used here than what it was invented for.

@deputyfk 13 күн бұрын

As a viewer of as many bike races as I can I want to say thank you to all of Neutral Support for what they do!!

@NRoyMoll 17 күн бұрын

This was really interesting. The blue cars are a familiar site but I’ve never really thought about the logistics of what they actually do.

@gcn 15 күн бұрын

Now you know 🙌

@cb6866 17 күн бұрын

Thanks Dan and crew...very cool to see that stuff !

@gcn 15 күн бұрын

Thanks to Neutral Service for letting us film with them 🙌

@zonedereve 14 күн бұрын

Love the analogy of every day preparing like a team but without their own riders. ❤😊🎉 Go neutral service! It's every rider's team!

@blueshun 18 күн бұрын

It's more historic if Mark Cavendish get his 36th with a neutral service bike.

@gcn 15 күн бұрын

Oh that would be cool!

@Velo757 16 күн бұрын

She's great!!! Much RESPECT to those guys and ladies! Amazing job they have to pull off!!! Thanks for your neutral service!

@MrDazP1adv3ntures 10 күн бұрын

This was an excellent presentation GCN. Thank you for compiling all of the juicy stuff into one feature length edition...👍

@torandi 17 күн бұрын

How often does someone actually take a bike or wheel from neutral service, seems like something we see very rarely.

@andrewmcalister3462 17 күн бұрын

Probably you don't see it, because the cameras and the team cars are amongst the leaders. A rider who has been dropped and is struggling to make the time cut (and the team cars a long way in front) may well rely on neutral service in the event of a puncture, but there are no cameras there to witness it.

@filiphajek4103 15 күн бұрын

Yep just like today .. stage 9. E.g. We did not see Vingegaards bike change, but we saw neutral car with Jan Tratnik with Vingegaard´s bike. Cameras are not everywhere and mechanical/punctures are happening all the time in normal stages not just this gravel one .. we just do not see them in TV so often unless the puncture happens to GC rider or some sprinter.

@seascape 17 күн бұрын

Not sure why this was an ad, as it was incredibly insightful! Looking forward to tours of the team buses, and perhaps similar episodes on the first aid cars and the broom truck/van/wagon.

@gcn 14 күн бұрын

That's the sign of a good ad 😉

@lvtiguy226 5 күн бұрын

I participated as a mechanic on a neutral service motor bike several years ago for a 100 mile bike ride in Las Vegas, NV. Late in the day we came across a rider on the side of a bike path that was in trouble due to dehydration. I sat with him for several minutes while giving him water and electrolytes. I could tell he was in no condition to finish the ride and convinced him to call his family to come pick him up. He initially wanted to keep going, but then trusted my judgment and agreed. I hope he is still riding well today.

@Dan-kw1be 13 күн бұрын

I was just thinking about this the other day while watching the tour for the first time. Thanks for the video

@danieljames1 17 күн бұрын

So interesting to gain some insight as to what keeps the machine running. That was 100% new and cool info for me. Thank you GCN for making this and all of your fantastic content.

@cheeheifoo9282 13 күн бұрын

This is amazing! Did not realise the service and the complexity! Well done. Even more respect for these guys and gals.

@johnstrac 17 күн бұрын

Fascinating ! Love this behind the scenes content, keep it up.

@gcn 15 күн бұрын

Anything else you would like to see on the channel?

@vladimirmilutinovic8057 17 күн бұрын

Very nice video ! Well done !!!

@alexbizkit79 16 күн бұрын

I'd love to own one of those blue Shimano bikes!

@bonganidarrylkhupe8139 17 күн бұрын

Thank you. Great information

@morosis82 17 күн бұрын

Great video, i always suspected some of the tricks theyd need but cool to see it from the source. That trick with dropper posts is brilliant, such a lateral thinking move! Would be cool to see some stats on how often they are used and what types of equipment gets used the most.

@Kitalpha100 Күн бұрын

There are many questions that needed answers while watching this awesome sport. Here I got some answers. Thanks, super cool.

@stevemc6671 14 күн бұрын

Great informative video, Thank You! 🙂👍

@Ryschleck 9 күн бұрын

I love this video! Cheers for bringing us a view of the cycling world that’s pretty much unseen behind the scenes 😊

@MichaelMitchell-vk9lk 19 сағат бұрын

That was so informative, thanks

@paulcooper5904 17 күн бұрын

That's a really interesting insight!!

@gregknipe8772 17 күн бұрын

great stuff, thank you!

@mattaddley 17 күн бұрын

Superb behind the scenes. Kudos GCN crew & Shimano.

@gcn 15 күн бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! 🙌

@mathiasiversen6158 14 күн бұрын

What about an episode following one of the tdf-team chefs for a day? For example Uno-X has a food truck following them the whole race, with a danish chef doing everything by himself. He posted a photo of him filling two full carts, and that was just two days feeding the riders😮

@kristenbrook897 17 күн бұрын

Great story GCN! Really interesting so thanks so much for filming and producing. Keep this sort of content coming! Thank you so much

@Parr4 18 күн бұрын

This is a great video. Very interesting to learn more about the neutral services!

@gcn 15 күн бұрын

It's a cool side of cycling lots of people don't think about 🙌

@waynebond5771 14 күн бұрын

Loved the insight into the neutral service team. Great video

@fen2453 10 күн бұрын

Shimano deserves all the credit in the world for their efforts. They also deserve all the data the data they aggregate doing this job😊

@supercoder7 17 күн бұрын

I love you all so much for doing this video! Have been curious about this forever. Thank you. Love that you can do these videos now since you are independent.

@gcn 15 күн бұрын

We'll keep the videos coming 🔥

@johnbazaar6188 15 күн бұрын

I don’t know how possible this is, but would love to get a tour of the medical tour (especially for a grand tour/tdf). Race doctors are so important and vital for all riders, curious to see what they have to help out.

@SarahanneField 17 күн бұрын

Thanks! Great video to watch while waiting for live coverage to begin! :P

@gcn 14 күн бұрын

Did you find yourself looking for the neutral service team?

@robjohnston1114 16 күн бұрын

Great insight video about more of the Tour's unsung heroes.

@gcn 15 күн бұрын

The logistical heroes 🙌

@martincove6054 14 күн бұрын

Nice one - really learnt something from this🙂

@nelsonm.5044 17 күн бұрын

Very interesting video on some thing se rarely hear about

@bikecommuter24 17 күн бұрын

Nice Very interesting and Dan just getting on with the interviews.

@mariahamilton5305 17 күн бұрын

Some very interesting stuff coming out! But it's weird seeing Dan on his own. I can't put my finger on why I feel he needs a buddy, but I do!

@jrguk 17 күн бұрын

Good bit of competitor analysis they get to do, whilst preparing to support all the teams!

@gilescudmore7325 14 күн бұрын

Wonder how much Shimanoi pay to be the neutral service asthey get a lot of coverage for basically handing out bottles - very rare to see them doing wheel change or handing out a bike as I guess they cover the back of the race a lot more than the front.

@chriscole4149 16 күн бұрын

Very cool pulling back the curtain on neutral service! thx

@alandriver 9 күн бұрын

Great Video

@richcrompton6891 17 күн бұрын

Fascinating. What a logistical puzzle. They should receive a prize after every race!

@gcn 15 күн бұрын

Hahaha the logistics could be the toughest part of the tour 🙌

@TheTurnerturner 10 күн бұрын

Enjoying having Dan back on the "shop floor", old school GCN.

@benjammind 14 күн бұрын

I can honestly say I have never seen a rider use the Shimano neutral service, really interesting video though!

@gcn 14 күн бұрын

You'll be looking out for it now?

@hazenausgazen 21 сағат бұрын

Please more Videos showing the big Circus behind and around the Tour...like this ;)

@playerforty4621 17 күн бұрын

And who are the guys in the white bikes giving away water bottles, unsung heros on the first 2 stages 👏

@paulsbailey 17 күн бұрын

Great video.

@gc641 17 күн бұрын

Awesome job

@markymark6958 11 күн бұрын

Awesome listening to this as I am about to assist Neutral Service for a UCI stage race next week.

@jonasvieth 15 күн бұрын

What tire pressures do they prepare? Especially for races like Roubaix.

@marksticky0688 8 күн бұрын

The 6mm refers to the hex size for the thru axle, not the axle diameter size. Good that there aren't a few 5mm ones thrown in there to complicate things further!

@devilsboxcar3925 16 күн бұрын

Brilliant video…..never knew what went into it.

@josecarlosli-ho8302 17 күн бұрын

Great video!! You should do one about the camera crew on motorcycles.

@Dramboli 9 күн бұрын

Having experienced disc brake rub when I changed wheels from different brands, I can imagine that most of the teams get disc brake rub when receiving a wheel from the neutral service, so they will change back to their own material in a few meters anyways.

@RayzLeeKL 17 күн бұрын

How does the team move from stage to stage? The team logistics movements. Hope to see a video similar on how F1 teams move about.

@cyclingnerddelux698 11 күн бұрын

Very interesting!

@aaronedgeart 17 күн бұрын

Huzzah for these heroes and heroines!

@MarkHagan83 17 күн бұрын

by far the coolest job in sports

@BoyArden 16 күн бұрын

Interesting video. There are so many ‘unseen’ parts of cycling racing that would be interesting to see. What about things like who puts up the barriers and when, what does the carnival before the race do, filling in all the potholes, how is the decision on the stage and route made?

@elscruffomcscruffy8371 17 күн бұрын

Dan really wanted a blue Shimano Bottle...poor guy

@bmodextreme 12 күн бұрын

I love that “biggest names in the sport” immediately cuts to the photo of simon

@sgtbinko2739 15 күн бұрын

64 wheels suprises me.thought it would of been more

@AaronI-wz4ok 15 күн бұрын

They get them back at the end of the stage

@kpbmx 17 күн бұрын

Never noticed but I guess following a swap from a NS bike back to a team one, the team keeps the NS bike on the car? Then does an exchange for the broken one when next possible? Logistical nightmare in a race situation. Stunning work.

@DJM9678 17 күн бұрын

Interesting. I don't think it was mentioned but what type of frames they are using (which brand)... does anybody know?

@johndoiron9615 15 күн бұрын

I would love one of those blue bikes!

@AaronI-wz4ok 15 күн бұрын

Canyon Ultimate

@Chris._P._Bacon 15 күн бұрын

I switched to Shimano pedals from Look in May......I gotta say, I'm surprised the pedals are fantastic and so much easier to slip into, my guess is the cleat design because I could never get it right with the Look pedals. So, yeah, I'm please with the change.

@George-dk7wo 17 күн бұрын

Awesome video, every time during a race I can't wait to see your video about the neutral service, such a cool job

@gcn 15 күн бұрын

You'll keep an eye out for neutral service now 😉

@NoirAngel921 8 күн бұрын

Remember what Shimano did to Nils Pollitt at last year's TDF? What a mess! 😂

@Shellewell 17 күн бұрын

All of this is exactly why I continue to remember the time Nathan van Hooydonck was rude to the Neutral Service people and they walked away without giving a wheel. His name was pretty much permanently scarred with that for me because they have a hard job and the stress of a race is no excuse for that attitude to people who are trying to juggle so many different needs and so many different sets of componentry.

@kaspershaupt 17 күн бұрын

I remember last year someone in the break broke a chain his team car was behind another group so the Shimano car tried to help him. The mechanic got one bike after another none of them fit for either size or pedal reasons. So he had to wait a long time for his team car to get to him. I just don't remember seeing a neutral actually helping someone out, maybe I don't watch enough cycling tho

@jamesmckenzie3532 17 күн бұрын

Mavic neutral service assisted at several of our local bicycle races. Due to legal concerns, Shimano service can't be used.

@OriginalTrev 14 күн бұрын

The Shimano neutral service bike frames, saddles, handlebars, stems and wheels are sourced from separate suppliers as white label products. It appears that the outsourced components are painted Shimano blue with a Shimano decal on everything they didn't manufacture. Is the neutral service a contracted component of select UCI races that would be open to bids from companies that compete directly with Shimano - like L-TWOO?

@pcat007 17 күн бұрын

I had no idea

@lazyac_ 12 күн бұрын

shimano di2 during a crash put itself on safe mode , does it apply too in tour de france or they managed to use a diffferent setup?

@MultiLuc28 16 күн бұрын

What brand are the frames they use for these neutral bikes?

@giancarloraphaeldeguzman8613 15 күн бұрын

Aside from the motocams, can we please have a live production behind the scenes? Thank you!

@sthlmcol 14 күн бұрын

Being an amateur. But why don’t the service cars use larger cars? Like vans? To fit more bikes/wheels? Sitting in regular cars with wheels in the backseat😂😂looks a bit weird

@amedeocestini 3 күн бұрын

They use the Baofeng TX/RX, i believe they use a Kenwood

@AChickenLord 18 күн бұрын

❤

@andrewingleton9374 17 күн бұрын

I miss Mavic 🥺

@a1white 17 күн бұрын

Yes, it was Mavic before wasn’t it?

@andrewmcalister3462 17 күн бұрын

Yeah, somehow yellow being Mavic's brand colour just worked at the TdF.

@jafrilharis 5 күн бұрын

What bikes are used at Shimano Neutral Service and are they the same every year the Grand Tour is held?

@vinceguevarra6380 17 күн бұрын

Do they bring wheel set with sram cassette and rotors?

@eduardoschneider2010 16 күн бұрын

Which bike brand do they use?

@user-me5gf5ok7v 14 күн бұрын

I am really curious what frame set they use

@andreasandremyrvold 12 күн бұрын

05:27 Thank you.

@a1white 17 күн бұрын

Alpecin Deceuninick still on QR? I thought they’d all be on through-axles now

@chrisv5514 4 күн бұрын

Just curious - is it public which bikes models these are? As in which brand / model etc? :)

@wildnatureee 17 күн бұрын

Why is the light on the Shimano motorcycle always broken? Seems like just the right hand side light is working… I’m wondering for ages now! 😅

@boy638 12 күн бұрын

who makes the bike frame?

@stuartfreedman6854 16 күн бұрын

I wonder, do any (Shimano assisted) riders actually change BACK when their team car gets close enough? Maybe just if things come to a stop for some reason...