Just been wondering, as above, how many support vehicles does a team have? Are there UCI rules (is the Giro a UCI event?) or are they on a tour by tour basis? If you know anything interesting about neutral service vehicles like the Mavic one on the Tour de France let us know that as well.
Thanks!

There's strict rules about how many cars and their position in the convoy and that depends on the 'level' of race – higher level races like the Giro have more than the minor Tours. Plus you've got Commissaires, neutral service, press, race doctor, motorcycles, usually 2 helicopters.

Suffice to say, it's not the most environmentally friendly sport in the world!
Add on to that the Team buses, trucks etc which take a different route each day between the start and finish.

If you're really bored, have a look at the rules and regs on the UCI website, http://www.uci.ch

Was hoping for somebody else to have had a look at the rules but a .pdf is on it's way down…
Oh, only one support vehicle per team, plus one neutral service vehicle per "mixed team", whatever that is plus at least 3 other neutral support vehicles. Thought there would be more, guess that is why you need your domestiques.

i was at tour med and vuelta murcia – it was generally two cars in the convoy, plus another car ahead to feed zone with swannies – some teams sent 2nd car off to the feed. cars run in convoy in order and the order changes each day. very busy place to be cars constantly moving up and back. dreadful view of the action unless you get lucky and have to cover a rider in a break. race radio lets you know what's happening and when you're required to come forward.

overall numbers of support varied – at tour med astana were running two coaches (one converted for mechanics), four team cars and another couple of cars. most other teams had a coach plus a truck and a few cars. smaller teams had camper vans, vans and cars.

lots of motorbikes and other vehicles. lots.

neutral service – couple of cars loaded with wheels and bikes.

Some really nice video on neutral Service Course from the P-R here

Useless information – the Yellow Skodas are actually a white car with a yellow plastic wrap…

From the 2006 TDF – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoJcvS7yWh8&playnext_from=TL&videos=9jlvf8XUw2M

Doesn't show the motto's in front, but I guess there would be at least 30 odd.

All professional sports are non-environmentally friendly though aren't they? Imagine how much resource a single football match takes up. or an F1 race!

What a big bike race will do is encourage people out on their bikes. You look at how many extra people you see out riding during the tour. Now that *is* an environmental win.

Useless information – the Yellow Skodas are actually a white car with a yellow plastic wrap…

Useless? Only if you never go to the pub, otherwise it is essential information! 🙂