First, what was the hump on his back during the long time trial. The Versus team noticed it too but did not seem to know what it was.

Second, did everyone notice that he was coughing every time he was interviewed at the end of a stage? Is this a carry over from the sinus problem he suffered from earlier in the season?

Looked like a camel back to me.

I noticed the coughing, no idea about it though.

Looked like a camel back to me.


I noticed the coughing, no idea about it though.

Isn't it exercised induced asthma?

I believe the hump was his race radio (to talk to the team car).

The coughing is what happens to almost all the bikers after a really hard effort. It's not quite exercise induced asthma as it's temporary but they've worked their lungs so hard from the effort that it becomes quite difficult to breath (and use the respiratory muscles). So when they try to talk, it leads to shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing. If you watch a lot of pro cycling, you'll see it after almost all the stages from about 80% of the riders being interviewed.

The hump was a camelbak. You could hear Matt White in the team car saying "OK, drink now", and I don't believe he had a water bottle on the frame. The only way he was drinking on command was through the camelbak hose.

Back when I was young (cue violins) and raced as an amateur I would cough and gasp for breath the rest of the day after a race. I always thought it was because I hadn't trained enough.

^ ^ ^ I developed a cough similar in my fourth year of racing anytime I raced over 50 miles, especially when it was warm. Coughing and shortness of breath.

Bob Roll was referring to what he called 'cyclist cough' as a result of TT on the prologue stage earlier this year. Can't recall his words exactly, but he said that the all-out effort during a time trial used to leave him coughing for most of the tour.

Earlier they did a piece on the Garmin skinsuits utilizing ice to help keep the rider's core temp lower. I thought it was that but didn't notice if the hump slowly went away as the stage went on.

The hump was a camelbak. You could hear Matt White in the team car saying "OK, drink now", and I don't believe he had a water bottle on the frame. The only way he was drinking on command was through the camelbak hose.

No he had a bottle


http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2008/tour08/index.php?id=/photos/2008/tour08/tour0820/bettiniphoto_0029600_1_full

I think the 'hump' may have been an ice sock.

I believe the hump was his race radio (to talk to the team car).

Race radio is in the aero part of the helmet - see the antenna sticking out the tail end of the helmet.

He ran with a water bottle.

His hump is a phase change cooling device that does not shrink with time, just keeps him cool without leaking water everywhere like ice would do.

No he had a bottle


http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2008/tour08/index.php?id=/photos/2008/tour08/tour0820/bettiniphoto_0029600_1_full

Ah yes, thanks! I searched for a photo like that, but you are a better "googler" than me! :thumb:

Dr. Frankenstein: "I can help you with that hump."

Igor: "What hump?"

;)

No he had a bottle


http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2008/tour08/index.php?id=/photos/2008/tour08/tour0820/bettiniphoto_0029600_1_full

That's not water. It's windshield wiper fluid.:)

The hump was not a water bottle. It was a pack of ice to keep his core temperature down.

And for the second, I thought he was just majorly out of breath and the reporters were quick to get him to talk about his ride.

it wasn't a radio, that is in the helmet.

it disappeared as the race went on.

i am thinking it was an additional water container that was also used to cool him down. it could be ice, but i would think that it would have melted quicker.

An ice sock.

On the bike the team uses a custom made item the riders have bestowed with many names. For our purposes, we’ll call it an Ice Sock. The team has hundreds of these tubes made from a soft poly-fiber. On hot stages the Ice Socks are filled with ice and passed out with extra bottles when the riders come back to the team car. The socks, stuffed around the shoulders and neck, keep the riders cool through the properties of conduction, evaporation and convection.

Here's a link. (http://tour-de-france.velonews.com/article/80922/how-garmin-chipotle-keeps-its-riders-fresh-for-the-tour)

^^^

Wow...cool story.

This may have been BS but I seem to remember there being an aero advantage of a well placed lump on the back (Saul Raisin has a spine deformity that was often questioned by officials as it looked like he had something down the back of his jersey). I know they are not allowed fairings, but I guess the "ice sock" is allowed. Anyone know the official rules on this?

I believe the hump was his race radio (to talk to the team car).

The coughing is what happens to almost all the bikers after a really hard effort. It's not quite exercise induced asthma as it's temporary but they've worked their lungs so hard from the effort that it becomes quite difficult to breath (and use the respiratory muscles). So when they try to talk, it leads to shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing. If you watch a lot of pro cycling, you'll see it after almost all the stages from about 80% of the riders being interviewed.

Get that dude some albuterol. everyone else has an exemption....