Team car aside, there’s little to give away the location
Most of one wall is given over to bikes, with Ridley Dean TT machines on top and Helium SLs on the bottom, along with the odd Noah SL
The bikes are staggered for space efficiency
As we saw at Paris-Roubaix, the odd rider prefers non-sponsor equipment, like this de-logoed Specialized Power saddle
A weighing scale hangs from the high ceiling by an old bike chain – essential equipment to make sure the bikes are UCI compliant
Along from the bikes, this rack is a cornucopia of carbon Campagnolo delights…
…while another rack holds the TT disc wheels
With all these wheels come wheel bags, which aren’t really needed in the course of normal team activities
There’s a glut of quick release skewers too
This Ridley Dean TT bike needs its rear brake setting up
The mechanics are cyclists too, as evidenced by their well-used looking bikes leaning against a wall
Some of the mechanics’ tools are straight off the shelf, some look more home-grown
High-end T-handle wrenches are a feature of many a pro mechanic’s toolkit
There are few problems that can’t be solved with lube, superglue, gaffer tape or bungee cords…
…and if all else fails, there’s always the “service spray”
There are roughly three and a half truing stands on this table, and a vice
A pile of fresh tubs in the corner, along with some random rims
Notable items in the rubbish include: chains, cables, tins of tubular glue, and broken Mavic Reflex tubular rims
Another box contains worn and part-worn tyres
Some more random wheels…
…including some seriously old Mavics. We speculate that the tape is to preserve the layer of glue.
The all-important bike setup jig – there’s another one in the truck that goes to races
Every rider’s vital statistics is included in this handy chart for bike setup purposes
One of the bikes being worked on carries a very familiar name
Another nook houses riders’ kit, with regular helmets and clothing on the left and TT helmets on the right
Pro teams consume immense quantities of soft drinks and bottled water – this is only about half of the total amount stored
Another area is set aside for the goody bags destined for VIPs
Although the second title sponsor has changed, Lotto Belisol memorabilia isn’t hard to find. Note the washing machines, essential for kit cleaning
Lotto Soudal – live your dream
As riders and mechanics come and go, the one constant is administrator and organiser Sara, who is only occasionally allowed out of the service course
In a dingy warehouse somewhere in Belgium, two mechanics are working away quietly. Bikes and wheels line one wall, with more racked up in the middle of the space. Welcome to the Lotto Soudal service course, the equipment hub of a WorldTour team that’s more Belgian than crosswinds and cobbles.
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The two men go about their business in an oasis of light at the back of the building, surrounded by tables of tools and piles of new and used bike components. BikeRadar took a wander round and had a delve through their rubbish – click on the gallery above to get a taste of what keeps a pro team ticking over.
