I know pretty much the square root of nothing about road racing, (so go easy on me if this is dumb question). but I’m enjoying watching the TdF. With regards to the TdF (or anyother biking I s’pose), do they use anything other than air in the tyres? Does the heat, or air pressure changes over the mountain stages mean inert gases are used instead of air?

my God, dont ask road questions around these parts…

just air, not really practical to use anything else

Probably not in the TdF as they just change a wheel, but some punctured tyres will be reinflated with CO2 from one of those tiny gas canisters – smaller to carry one of those than a pump on a ride.

A mixture of Helium and Stans 😆

Just air, and yes, the rims can heat up on long descents and can cause the tyre pressure to increase.

But the pros uses tubes normally, so less likely that the increase in pressure would blow the tyre off the rim like clincher tyre could (possibly)

But the pros uses tubes tubs normally

😉

Tubulars can come unglued and come off the rim if the rim heats up too much. See Joseba Beloki’s 2003 TdF crash.