Riding in the Mavic Car

Tour De Georgia Stage 2, April 19, 2006

by Trish Albert

On Wednesday, I spent Stage 2 from Fayetteville to Rome with Mavic. I was in Mavic car 2 or "Mavic 2" as we were known on race radio. Mavic provides neutral support to any racer that has a mechanical. They carry spare wheels in several different configurations including Campy and Shimano. They also have complete spare bikes in case the team car cannot get to a rider that has a major bike failure. Mavic 2 was to be towards the front of the caravan behind Commisaire 2, or "Comm 2." Our job was to provide support to the break in case riders were at least one minute ahead of the peloton. If the break fell under one minute, we would be asked to go ahead of the break, so we would not interfere with the race. If we were not with a break, we were to stay out of the way of other cars and riders. Mavic Moto 2 was also assigned to support the break. Pete Hill from St. Petersburg, FL and Scott Hodge from Braselton, GA were the mechanics. Pete was driving, and Scott was in the back seat, ready to spring out at a moment's notice if a rider had a flat tire or other mechanical.

Mile 0 Radio Tour provides race updates to all cars in the caravan as well as keeping order in the caravan. When the race first gets rolling, Radio Tour does a radio check to make sure that everyone can hear and respond of the frequency they will be using. Because of the weather front moving through, the fixed wing aircraft (plane) could not take off, so race radio was on "Simplex”, whose range is not as far as when the aircraft is aloft.

Today's stage was 116 miles from Fayetteville to Rome over mostly rolling terrain. The only rated climb was Cat. 4 Clocktower Hill on the four finishing circuits in Rome.

Conversation turned to the mechanics. Pete has been with Mavic for about 5 years and has been in the bike industry for about 15 years. He went to the USCF mechanics school and first started with Mavic at the West Palm Beach, FL crit. Scott Hodge has been wrenching on bikes as long as he can remember and has been with Mavic Neutral Support for about 4 years. Scott co-owns Addictive Cycles in Brasleton, GA.

Pete Hill, Driver Extraordinaire

Mile 10 Drizzle. A break with a single rider has gone off. Via Radio Tour, we find out that it is Alejandro Acton of Team Target Training. He appears to be trying to go for the sprint at mile 18. The field is asleep and lets him go. A mile up the road, the break is up to a minute, and we move into position behind the break and Comm 2. I asked why some team do not want Mavic providing support to their riders. The Discovery Channel team does not want any other wheels to be used on their team's bicycles. Reasons could be that they do not want a competitor to see a prototype wheel, their sponsors pay large amounts of money to have the Discovery riders on their equipment, or the team might want their riders to be on a specific type of wheel for a stage.


Mile 17 The peloton has slowed down for a Natural Break. Mavic 2 rolls on with the Acton. As we approached the first sprint of the day, photo motorcycles started rolling up. The caravan is like a choreographed dance. There are protocols to follow and rules to keep. All moving up is done on the left side. As the cars or motos move up, they honk in a short pattern. Riders moving up get a longer honk from their team car to signify that they are moving up. Pete and I talk about racing. He said that he “follows racing, but it is not my life. I have too many other things going on.”

Mile 25 The gap is 5’20” (5 minutes, 20 seconds). We are rolling through the popular riding area south of Atlanta known as Silk Sheets. The terrain is rolling with no major climbs. The Team Target Training Director Sportif came to the front to feed Acton and to give him instructions. He told him that the peloton was rolling along like it was a touring ride and for him to take it easy. By this time we were out of the range of Radio Tour and the other Mavic vehicles.

The view of the break from Mavic 2. Mavic Moto 2 follows.

Mile 33 At this point, the guys started saying that the day was looking to be boring. Scott mumbled something about if Martian, or aliens came down, he might get to do a wheel change today. We also talked more about what goes on in the Mavic cars. The backseat mechanic will let the driver know if there are any cars or motors coming up on the left. This is Pete’s first time driving in a big race, so he is glad for Scott’s help. I asked the guys what being on the motor is like. They said that it can be a lot of fun because you are so close to the action. No one liked being on the moto when it was cold, raining, or both. No matter what the weather, your hands and entire body cramp from having to hold the wheels and other equipment.

Mile 37 A civilian car got into the lead group of the caravan. A marshal escorted her out. There is a large gap between the break and the field, and there are many driveways with no marshals. The elderly driver probably pulled out of her driveway and did not realize there was a race happening. The rain is still coming down off and on. The time board came by at regular intervals and showed Acton the time back to the field. As we had no radio, this was one of our few links to know what was happening in the race.

Miles 44.7 The time gap to the field is 10’38”. There is a spectator filming the race on the side of the road. The announcer car pulls up to us and says that she might want to turn the camera off for the next 9 minutes. She looks at them in disbelief. There are a few lightening flashes in the sky. Everyone in the car agrees that it probably is not a good idea to have a lot of electrical equipment on top of the car like the announcers do during a thunderstorm. The commentary is done by Richard Frese and David Towle at the start and finish. Mavic Moto 2 decides that they want to eat something. My job is to hold Scott’s Coke while he hands the moto guys water and a Clif Shot.

Mile 59.5 Mavic Moto 2 decides to eat their sandwiches, too. The Target Training DS comes forward again and tells us that Lance Armstrong is in the Discovery car following today’s stage. We hit 48 mph going down the back side of Mt. Vinson, a popular climb in Polk County. The break is still around 10 minutes.

Hungry moto mechanics eat lunch.

Mile 89.5 The moto takes a Natural Break. We took over behind Acton in case anything happened as his team car had moved back behind the field. In a case where a team only has one car in the caravan, Mavic will support a rider for their team car. Typically, the DS will tell the Comm car that Mavic will be supporting and feeding their rider before dropping back. Often the team car will give Mavic the rider’s food and drink. Acton looked like he was getting tired.

Mile 92.9 The break is down to 7’30”. Mavic 2 is holding position behind Comm 2 and the break.

Mile 97.4 The Target Training DS says that Phonak, who is on the front trying to bring the break back in, miscalculated how strong Acton is. Acton is normally known for his finishing power in a sprint, as shown by his recent win at the Garret Lemire Memorial Grand Prix NRC crit. CSC has decided not to chase.

Mile 99.7 The time between the break and the field is coming down quickly before the circuits and is now 3’10”. I asked Scott and Pete how Mavic will support tomorrow’s time trial. They explained that Mavic mechanics will be evenly spaced out on the course with a spare set of wheels and basic tools in case the rider is not being followed by a team car. Since the team mechanics will have a lot of adjustments to make to the time trial bikes, the Mavic trailer will remain at the start to help any riders that may need a last minute fix or adjustment.

Mile 100.6 There has been an attack at the front, but it does not go anywhere. The break is still off. Scott and Pete accurately predicted most of the race through our journey. They said that a break would likely go early, be let go, and get caught close to the finishing circuits. Both are able to read a race quite well.

Mile 103.8 The break is now under 2 minutes. Mavic 2 will move forward when the gap reaches 1’30”. Shortly thereafter, we are asked to move ahead of the break.

Mile 107.5 The break has been caught as we enter the four finishing circuits in Rome. Mavic Moto 2 is asked to pull ahead as well. The circuits are really tight and really fast. I try to hold on as Pete whips the car to the left around the sharp turn at the bottom of Clocktower Hill. I was thankful that I had my seat belt on as I felt like the car might flip over at any second. If he wants a second career, Pete may have one on the Rally car circuit.

Mile 116 The caravan is pulled off the course into Caravan Deviation for the safety of the riders, the caravan, and the spectators. The cars are let out shortly after the last rider crosses the finish line. Yaroslav Popovych (Discovery) took the win after attacking on the last climb up Clocktower Hill.

I had a great day with Mavic in the car. The mechanics work very hard and are proud of what they do. They aim to be the fastest to change a wheel or provide support to any rider in need.
 

Scott Hodge entertains the crowd.

Pretty Mavic painted Scott bikes.

The view of the moto from the Mavic car.

The Mavic race mechanics after a hard day's work.