Car for the cobbles: Team Sky’s modified Ford Mondeo

The gruelling cobbles of Paris-Roubaix are known for dishing out punishment to the riders and bikes that take place in the one-day classic, but spare a thought for the vehicles that support each team on its quest for success.

Ford recently published details on the latest support cars it built for Team Sky, along with the upgrades and modifications necessary to make the car ready for the cobbles. We take a closer look at the process below:

Choose the right base model

Equipped with the 178hp version of Ford’s 2.0 TDCI engine, Team Sky’s Mondeos also get four-wheel drive – something that should well help on wet and uneven cobbles.

Lift and stiffen

Plates at the ready

Optimise the space

Add 50 energy bars and 50 filled water bottles in the car’s on-board coolbox, a dedicated clothing area plus custom waterproof wet bags and a compartment to dry wet clothes and you start to appreciate just how organised each team car has to be.

Thorough testing

After Ford carried out its modifications, the Team Sky’s team car was then put through its paces at Ford’s Lommel proving ground in Belgium. Consisting of more than 80km of test tracks and over 100 extreme surfaces, the facility is where Ford’s R&D teams test cars to their limits. Perfect for this application is a 1.9km section of road produced specifically to simulate some of the world’s worst potholes.

Communication is key

It has to look the part

With a million spectators potentially viewing the car just on the course alone it’s important that the car looks as good as it works. Team Sky worked closely with its vinyl expert to produce a car that represents its team and sponsors as best as possible.