On 19 Sep, 11:08, Ben C wrote:
On 2009-09-18, Nobby Anderson wrote:

Watching a bit of the TofB this evening, I couldn't help wondering how
much effect on riders the motorbikes used by the camera operators have
on the cyclists. *Particularly on the climbs, there was quite often a
motorbike directly in front of the riders, travelling at quite slow
speed, and it seems to me that they'd be getting a good gobfull of
exhaust fumes at a time when they surely need every ounce of oxygen
they can get. *Not to mention that it looked pretty dodgy anyway
with motorbikes weaving around the riders much of the time.

Has anybody any experience with that? *I mean we all cycle in traffic,
but generally it's not to the same level of effort to those guys (well,
certainly not in my case anyway!), and it must have some effect on their
performance, surely?

Interesting question, I don't know the answer.

I would think that if you're close enough to inhale much exhaust you're
probably close enough to be getting a decent aerodynamic draft, which
would give you a bigger advantage than the fumes might take away.

They do sometimes get a draft off the camera bike. Apparently the rules
are they are allowed to if they can-- it's the camera bike's
responsibility to get out of the way.

It's not just television bikes. Even on quite small races you'll have
a lot of motor marshals continually overtaking the peloton in order to
marshal the next junction ahead, plus judges' and comissaires' cars,
and sometimes neutral service. Team cars will normally follow the main
peloton so aren't a problem for the guys off the front - but it's the
guys off the back and struggling to get back on who are actually
working hardest of anyone, and they're having to fight their way up
through the rear caravan where there are a lot of vehicles and a lot
of fumes. Even in the small British races I help out on there are
often as many crew as riders, when you count in officials, marshals,
routing/derouting crew, neutral service, team managers, soigneurs,
medical and first aid, and police escort (if any).

As you say it must have some impact on performance. I suppose everyone
just treats it as part of the game.