Let there be no doubt as to who’s the best funded team in the pro peloton. Team Sky wasn’t just rockin’ production Jaguar vehicles for sag wagons, they had this prototype Jaguar F-Pace SUV stealthily decaled. Word is, this model won’t even be formally introduced until the Frankfurt Auto Show, hitting showrooms in 2016 sometime. But here it is, and it’s gorgeous.
Ride on in for more pics of this and other cars from le Tour, including a look inside to see how they set them up to service the riders mid-race…
But first, more pics of the F-Pace.
All of the lights were partially covered to disguise the final look, but we’re guessing it’s gotta be ready for it to be thrashed through the Tour de France as a support vehicle.
Twenty. Two. Inch. Rims.
Their standard team cars aren’t too shabby, either.
Lest you think they spared any expense, even the team bus’ window shades have the team logo printed on them.
Team Orica GreenEDGE also dressed their front window up a bit.
Movistar ran Volvo wagons, which along with Skoda were far more common. These are the XC70 wagons, likely chosen because they offer more room than the sportier V60 models.
One of Lotto Soudal’s vehicles was either vandalized or had a mishap.
FDJ’s team had several of these Skoda wagons, but we only saw one with this killer metallic blue wrap.
Inside the cars were all manner of screens, maps and radio paraphernalia to keep tabs on the riders. This one was inside Team Sky’s Jaguar F-Pace, where even the dash was being concealed from prying eyes (like ours).
Some teams used iPads or other tablets with or without auxiliary screens of some type. Most cars had large antennas on the top that could be satellite television, letting them watch in real time. Note all the Powerbar foodstuffs in the door pocket.
Some teams were a bit more old school in their approach, using paper maps and lists, kinda like the Mavic neutral support vehicle we posted earlier.
In the back seats were mostly an assortment of tools. A lot of the cars were simply stuffed full of wheels from the back of the driver’s seat to the rear hatch. This one’s had a full sized tool box along with a well organized small parts bin.
Astana’s guys had perhaps the best tool organization, keeping it very easily reachable when leaning out the window trying to fix a bike in motion. Duct tape FTW!
Others had no organization whatsoever.
Many had large coolers full of water bottles.
We asked where the beer was, and they replied “We’re saving that for Paris!” Vive le France!
Stay tuned for tons more tech coverage from the pits!
