Preparing for the Tour – 21 Days of Tour Tech

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=320%2C416 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=480%2C624 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=640%2C832 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 375px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=190%2C247, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=380%2C494 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=570%2C741 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=692%2C900 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 425px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=215%2C279, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=430%2C559 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=645%2C838 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=692%2C900 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 768px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=295%2C383, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=590%2C767 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=693%2C900 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 992px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=136%2C176, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=272%2C353 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=408%2C530 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=544%2C707 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(min-width: 993px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=155%2C201, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=310%2C403 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=465%2C604 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C806 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <img class="wp-image-297638 size-portrait_thumbnail image-handler__image image-handler__image--aspect no-wrap js-gallery-grid-src-image" src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf.jpg?quality=90&resize=295%2C383" width="295" height="383" data-crop-width="" data-crop-height="" alt="Fine-tuning the position of Peter Stetina's brake levers with a handy measuring tool" title="1404564603926-14kc6c5wf5uz0-da3ddaf" style="width: auto; height: 100%;"> Fine-tuning the position of Peter Stetina’s brake levers with a handy measuring tool Robin Wilmott / Future Publishing

During the lead-up to the Tour de France , mechanics and riders invested hours to ensure their bikes and bodies were as finely tuned and ready to roll as possible.

From applying frame numbers and timing chips, to building up complete bikes from new frames, mechanics were plenty busy. Two local riders even found themselves pulled into the effort, having been recruited by Europcar to lead a ride on familiar roads.

With stage 5 taking riders through the Arenberg Forest, of Paris-Roubaix fame, teams were prepping cobbles bikes in advance of the race as well as the standard race machines for the first three stages in England.

BikeRadar visited every team ahead of the start to bring you this in-depth photo gallery.

<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404565977374-of8wa4pvjklb-d61d27f.jpg?quality=90&lb=1600,900&background=white" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404565977374-of8wa4pvjklb-d61d27f.jpg?quality=90&lb=1456,819&background=white 1456w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404565977374-of8wa4pvjklb-d61d27f.jpg?quality=90&lb=1112,625&background=white 1112w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404565977374-of8wa4pvjklb-d61d27f.jpg?quality=90&lb=940,528&background=white 940w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404565977374-of8wa4pvjklb-d61d27f.jpg?quality=90&lb=728,409&background=white 728w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404565977374-of8wa4pvjklb-d61d27f.jpg?quality=90&lb=556,312&background=white 556w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404565977374-of8wa4pvjklb-d61d27f.jpg?quality=90&lb=355,199&background=white 355w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404565977374-of8wa4pvjklb-d61d27f.jpg?quality=90&lb=340,191&background=white 340w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1404565977374-of8wa4pvjklb-d61d27f.jpg?quality=90&lb=320,180&background=white 320w, " sizes="(min-width: 992px) 940px, (min-width: 768px) 728px, (min-width: 576px) 556px, calc(100vw - 20px)" width="1600" height="900" class="wp-image-297759 alignnone size-full img-container__image" alt="This man in the neck brace is smiling because he is only a test dummy" title="1404565977374-of8wa4pvjklb-d61d27f" data-source-name="Ben Delaney / Future Publishing"> This man in the neck brace is smiling because he is only a test dummy: this man in the neck brace is smiling because he is only a test dummy Ben Delaney / Future Publishing Teams and riders weren’t the only ones preparing; medical personnel tested their equipment as well