We go behind the scenes at the Tour Down Under - the WorldTour's first race of the season - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Tour Down Under is unique in that it places all teams together in one giant marquee. Normally the teams have their own team buses and plenty more space to work - David Rome / Immediate Media
The morning coffee queue - David Rome / Immediate Media
Neutral Service is provided by Shimano - David Rome / Immediate Media
Once bikes are washed, they are then handed to the other mechanic for drying, checking, adjusting and prep for the next day - David Rome / Immediate Media
Things like chains are replaced at this point if needed - David Rome / Immediate Media
A tool box from a Movistar mechanic shows some serious Euro quality - including Beta and Knipex - David Rome / Immediate Media
Craig from Orica-GreenEdge showed us the team's 'Aussie travel spares box'. "Just about everything except a frame is in here as spares," he said - David Rome / Immediate Media
Jesse from Drapac has made this very early prototype (ie, it's the only one) used specially for adjusting brake levers to exact positions - it bolts into the end of the bar and makes setting up multiple bikes for one rider a breeze - David Rome / Immediate Media
A standard Garmin mount being put to good use on this Canyon one-piece handlebar/stem - David Rome / Immediate Media
The sweaty weather of the Tour Down Under means even helmets get a good wash - David Rome / Immediate Media
This strap tells a Campagnolo EPS battery to switch off - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Park Tools of Team Sky - David Rome / Immediate Media
Most teams bring some form of basic truing stand with them - such as this Park Tool Home Mechanic model - David Rome / Immediate Media
Other teams manage to bring (or borrow) full-blown pro stuff - David Rome / Immediate Media
Don't have a truing stand? Just pop the wheel on the outside of the dropout and use something like a ziptie as a gauge. This FDJ mechanic was cleaning the old glue from the rim - David Rome / Immediate Media
Sometimes a tyre has a flat spot (from riders locking wheels) or severe puncture and the tyre must be chucked. In this case, it was quickest to cut the tyre from the rim - David Rome / Immediate Media
For minor cuts, super glue in the hole works just fine - WorldTour proven! - David Rome / Immediate Media
Working on bikes at the Tour Down Under can get a little cramped - David Rome / Immediate Media
Most teams have their own ways of mounting race numbers to bikes. A bolt-on mount is probably the most common - David Rome / Immediate Media
Neutral Service is there to get riders going when team cars are not nearby - David Rome / Immediate Media
The tool bag of Jeff Crombie from Drapac. We spent a full day with Jeff while at the Tour Down Under - look out for a full feature soon - David Rome / Immediate Media
Bikes are cleaned and drivetrains lightly degreased every day - David Rome / Immediate Media
Floor pumps get a real workout every day - this Lezyne has had it's head chopped of (and replaced) - David Rome / Immediate Media
A bike fitting tool for the professionals. Most teams have some form of these precision tools, although not all bring them to Tour Down Under - David Rome / Immediate Media
Going off the bottom bracket gives a very accurate dimension to ensure such things as saddle setback and saddle height are correct - David Rome / Immediate Media
Chain lube is forced through the rollers with a bit of help. This also helps the mechanic feel for imperfections in the chain, such as a bent link - David Rome / Immediate Media
A tiny piece of electrical tape with a hole in it is used to stop a valve rattling within the rim - David Rome / Immediate Media
These roof ornaments are an iconic sight at the Tour Down Under - David Rome / Immediate Media
Dressed just like Tinkoff-Saxo, some of the police help control the race courses while on bicycles - David Rome / Immediate Media
Depending on how their bodies are going, many riders will make tweaks to their fit - there can be plenty of trial and error involved for both the riders and mechanics - David Rome / Immediate Media
The tools of the trade - seriously, cleaning is a large part of what the mechanics do - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Tour Down Under lets mechanics catch-up and joke with each other - David Rome / Immediate Media
Three WorldTour teams are on Specialized for 2015 - David Rome / Immediate Media
Adjusting the brake on a Trek Madone. Most Trek Factory Racing riders were actually on the Domane - David Rome / Immediate Media
A clean bike is a fast bike - David Rome / Immediate Media
Every mechanic would clean the wheels and tyres with a sponge - once dry, the tyres are thoroughly checked for cuts and wear - David Rome / Immediate Media
Many mechanics leave their bigger tool boxes at home and travel with lighter tool bags - David Rome / Immediate Media
The test of a professional - In the afternoons, mechanics work in booths while the public is there to watch - David Rome / Immediate Media
Team Sky car #1 ready to roll out - David Rome / Immediate Media
Resting legs before the stage start - David Rome / Immediate Media
Marcel Kittel meets some fans before a stage start - David Rome / Immediate Media
Team car boots are packed with spares for riders - Team Sky's was very well organised - David Rome / Immediate Media
Andy Riis, the owner of BMC Bicycles is a common sight at the big races. He was likely in Australia to see Cadel Evans compete in his last stage race - David Rome / Immediate Media
That Garmin isn't going anywhere… - David Rome / Immediate Media
Cannondale-Garmin's Moreno Moser looking very ready to race - David Rome / Immediate Media
Rupert Guinness interviews Adam Hansen - David Rome / Immediate Media
Often the spare bikes don't have power meters - as shown on this Ettix-Quickstep spare - David Rome / Immediate Media
Cannondale-Garmin talk race strategy before stage two - David Rome / Immediate Media
Race radios are a crucial part of modern racing - David Rome / Immediate Media
Knowing the key points of the race is crucial. It's common for riders to have this written on their stems - especially if a stage win is the plan - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Australian fans were out in force to see Cadel Evans racing one last stage race - David Rome / Immediate Media
One very cool pre-set torque wrench - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Tour Down Under in Adelaide, Australia, is a unique event on the WorldTour calendar. It's the first event of the season, and the time when the public get to see what’s new, and when riders and staff catch up on who’s been doing what over the ‘break’.
It's also special because it throws all teams into one giant marquee tent, where they work side-by-side, in front of the public, without their trusted team trucks. Because of this, teams are forced to travel light, be resourceful and get the rare chance to talk shop with their industry friends from opposing teams while they work.
Scroll through our gallery above to walk through the pits and start lines, and to see the tools and tricks of the trade. For a complete look at all the bikes, see our recent WorldTour team bike gallery. And head to the main Tour Down Under page to see all our coverage in one place.
Still to come – we take you on a photo journey of the day in a life of a pro race mechanic.
