Homebrew01

Seems like there are too many vehicles in the big races. The fumes must be horrible on the climbs with all the cars and motos up front. And Paris Roubaix can be a dust storm from the lead vehicles. Must really suck as a rider at some points.

xfimpg

+1
Way, way too many vehicles. I don't know how the guys manage to keep their cool... and of course some don't. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4XxCZagAjk

carpediemracing 

Having worked a small UCI ranked stage race I'll say that although it seems excessive at times, like when the group is all together, at other times there aren't enough vehicles. This is particularly true when a field fragments significantly, like in a Paris Roubaix. It's a bit different for full road closure type races (the race I worked was a rolling closure with some full closures on descents and in built up areas).

Having said that I admit I wouldn't want to be following the dust clouds I see in the dry Paris-Roubaix races. I also wouldn't want to be run off the road by a VIP driver/vehicle, one that really doesn't need to be there (except for sponsorship reasons).

vvup

The first time I watched the TDF go past I was amazed by all the vehicles. People don't believe me when I say there are more car's than road bikes. That's not including the motor bikes which fly past so often. I tried to film them all but took up too much storage space.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuPjQHqEFuU - static footage of the TDF going past.

Watch this video video with 70 odd car's AFTER the main feild goes by, I didn't count how many were after the breakaway. There were probably a similar amount of cars infront of the race, not including the caravan's that hand junk out. And then there's the team busses and personal that take an alternative route to meet the riders at the finish. Its probably the most disappointing part of watching a bike race, how reliant the bike riders are on cars.

jyl

For sure, there are a lot of cars at the TdF. 2 team cars per team, plus all the officials and VIPs and journalists and marketing caravan and team buses and team trucks . . . its not a "green" event.

But most of the cars are behind the peleton. If there is a breakaway the team cars for the represented riders will be allowed to follow it, but that's usually only a few teams and thus only a few cars. There are dozens of motorbikes (video, still, official, police).

Interesting stuff:
https://www.wiredtowinthemovie.com/pr...icediallo.html
https://cyclingtips.com.au/2012/10/ey...-to-the-world/

YMCA

As a rider, the more cars/motorcycles, the better!
I've raced numerous 8-9 day stage races and had my fair share of mechanical s and mishaps.
Having a huge caravan makes it much easier to make it back to the peloton without wasting huge energy fighting the wind yourself.
Just serpentine and hop from vehicle to vehicle.