What is the team car in cycling?
The team car is the vehicle that follows riders during a race, carrying the directeur sportif, a mechanic, spare wheels and bikes, food and drinks.
In road races, team cars drive behind the peloton in a convoy. Their order is usually set by the race organiser, often based on the general classification. When a rider has a puncture or mechanical problem, the team car brings a spare wheel or bike. When riders need food, drinks or clothing, a domestique drops back to the car to collect them.
The team car is also the tactical centre. The directeur sportif drives or sits in the front seat, follows the race on television or race radio, and talks to the riders through their earpieces. A mechanic in the back seat is ready to jump out with a wheel.
There are rules on how riders can use the car. Holding onto it for long, or "sticky bottles", where a rider is towed while taking a bottle, can be punished by the commissaires.
The bikes and spare wheels carried on the car roof are each team's race equipment. Our bikes section lists the frames, groupsets and wheels each WorldTeam uses this season.