Team Sunweb's Mini Cooper Clubman SD team car - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
The car is equipped with two-way radios for the team and the race radio - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
Team Sunweb opts for plenty of extras, including heated seats - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
A monitor in the front and rear of the car enables video footage of the race - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
Energy drinks on hand to pass out of the team car to riders - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
The German team opts for the John Cooper Works level of trim - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
Leather bucket seats ensure the DS and soigneurs are secure when cornering fast - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
Kenwood speakers provide audio for the race radio - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
The Paris-Tours race book still sits in the car from the previous week's racing - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
The radio sits on a stretch-cord for the DS or driver's ease of access in contacting the team - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
Gels, bars, food and the all improtant race accreditation - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
Plenty of Team Sunweb cycling caps are on hand for any fans of the team - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
An automatic gear box enables easier control when communicating with riders close by - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
A monitor in the rear of the car enables the mechanic to see what it is going on in the race and potentially what spares need preparing - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
Team cars offer plenty of real estate for advertisers and partners - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
Team Sunweb opts for 19.5 inch/495mm ten-spoke alloy wheels - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
The roof rack has enough room for nine team bikes - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
The car goes through plenty of bumps and scrapes throughout the season - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
Team Sunweb has one of the more unique team cars in the WorldTour peloton - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
Windscreen wipers can cause havoc with the race convoy identification stickers, sticking them low can keep them out of the wind and avoid peeling off mid-race - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
The Mini Cooper Clubman SD has a maximum output of 190hp/139,745 watts - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
The car's design has a distinctive split rear door access - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
A closer look at the roof rack - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
Battle wounds from the 2017 season - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
Team Sunweb has used the MINI Clubman as a team car for two seasons now, and the iconic car brand is one of the more unique vehicles in the WorldTour race convoy.
A professional cycling team’s car needs to offer the capability to carry the full complement of spare bikes and components, have performance over terrain that varies from rough cobbles to alpine switchbacks, and provide the comfort for transcontinental journeys and long race transfers.
The MINI Cooper SD Clubman offers the German registered team all of this as well as an instantly recognisable brand that stands out among the more traditional family estates employed by much of the WorldTour peloton.
Photographed a few days after Paris-Tours, the car was still equipped with the race convoy vehicle identification stickers, a race book, and energy gels and food was stockpiled in the door pockets.
The roof rack has enough room for nine team bikes - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
The car measures in at 1,800mm wide (excluding door mirrors) and 4,253mm long, which is just 30mm narrower than a Volkswagen Passat (Bahrain-Merida’s chosen team car). While the car widths may be similar, the MINI loses out on nearly 500mm of length to the Passat and this is noticeable in the rear seat legroom and boot space.
Despite the smaller than usual dimensions, the car comfortably accommodates a nine-bike roof rack, allowing for a spare bike for each team member during a Grand Tour during this season.
The Mini Cooper Clubman SD has a maximum output of 190hp/139,745 watts - Josh Evans/Immediate Media
As well as the roof rack, other customisations include brackets on the front wing panels for aerials, which service both the team and race radios located in the passenger footwell of the car. Screens on the dash and attached to the rear of the front passenger seat offer live footage of the race, so the mechanics and team staff can prepare for any wheel changes or tactical decisions from the car.
The MINI Cooper SD Clubman has a 1,995cc engine, with an output of 190 horsepower, equal to around 140,000 watts - or 70 Michael Matthews in full sprint!
The four-cylinder diesel engine accelerates the car from 0–100km/h (0–62mph) in 7.4 seconds and onto a maximum speed of 224km/h (139mph), with 400nm (295 ft/lb) of torque transferred via its Pirelli Sottozero front tyres. Official figures suggest it'll also return a combined economy figure of 62.8mpg or 4.5l/100km.
Click or swipe through the gallery above for a detailed look at Team Sunweb’s car.
