Danny talks about how team cars are the ‘second peloton’. He explains, “you know, most of the ds’es are former racers. We can’t ride in the peloton, so we do our racing with the team cars.
We assist Danny in his task by reading the stage map in the race manual to him, based on mileage readings and estimated time. At certain key points in the stage, riders are tasked with attacking, maintaining the pace or trying to catch any breakaways, depending on the terrain and what lies ahead, such as feeding zones, Sprints and KOMs. This can be important for riders in the General Classification, or those wanting to keep, or win, the coveted coloured jerseys.
As the stage progresses, a group of 15 riders are blown out the back of the peloton at the first KOM (King of the Mountain). Danny gets on his phone, talking to the second team car, telling them to stay with the peloton while he supports the TSG riders at the rear. Other DS’es drop back to us, and a series of shouts and hand signals let them know that Danny has matters in hand and will stay with the rear group while they close in on the lead group.
Thus begins a series of handing out cold drinks to the riders when they need it, and sometimes when they don’t. The heat is telling on everyone, even those of us in the car. Several times, riders come up for a ‘technical adjustment’ to their bike, and the TSG technician leans out of the window to make the necessary fix. Bidons are rapidly exchanged, with expended bottles being thrown at us through the front window and a new bottle grabbed from the rear. In the car, lunch is a matter of Danny sharing a sandwich with us, because we had neglected to bring our own food.
At this point, the riders in this small group, regardless of team, come to the TSG car for fluids and to hear some encouraging words. Danny is constantly in contact with his colleague in the other team car, getting race updates, while we listen to Radio Tour for information on the breakaway, and distance markers. The leaders in the race are maintaining a steady pace, while the peloton stays together, working as a group to spread the workload and share the burden.
At the 25km point, we get word that the peloton is almost catching the breakaway. Danny does some rapid calculations in his head, and realises that with the support of the team car, the rear group has closed their initial 6km shortfall to 2 kilometers. He tells us this, and we relay the information to the rear group. We get nods from the TSG, SKY, Bretagne-Seche and Malaysian Team riders, and they crank up the pace in a smooth, deliberate manner. In a matter of minutes, we are caught up with the rear of the convoy, and the groups break up to wind their way through the cars to catch up with the peloton.
As we approach the finish line, the riders start to cross, and we get word of the winners from Radio Tour. We pull into the team area, and the technician rapidly sets up stall from the support van which arrived earlier at the finish line to prepare for the riders coming in. This means lots of cold fluids, and towels, as well as medicated ointment for muscle massage. The team kit is laid out for the riders to change into, and Danny heads off to look for his charges.
The professionalism and smooth operation inside the team car is apparent, as well as the mental acuity displayed by the DS, who has a mental picture of the race as it happens based upon a few phone calls and radio messages. It was amazing to watch, as it had all the hallmarks of a battle being fought by a general on the field.
Cycling Malaysia to express their thanks to Danny Feng of TSG, as well as Team SKY and the Malaysian National Team, for letting the Senior Editor ride along.
