The Unsung Heroes Behind the Taiwan Cycling Classic: Stories of Team Mechanics, Car Drivers, and Feed Stations

What You See Is the Rider; What You Don’t See Is an Entire Team

When Rajovic crossed the finish line at 71 km/h, he was the hero in front of the cameras. But beyond the lens, a group of people had been working since the early hours of the morning to ensure his bike tires were fully inflated, his gears were perfectly tuned, and his bottles were filled with the correct sports drink formula.

Team Mechanic

Working Hours: From 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. on race days

Pre-Race Tasks:

• Check every bolt on every bike
• Confirm tire pressure (accurate to 0.1 bar)
• Tune the gear system (accurate to 0.1 mm)
• Clean and lubricate the chain
• Prepare spare wheels and spare bikes

During-Race Tasks:

• Sit behind the team car, ready to jump out and fix bikes at a moment’s notice
• Hand over spare wheels (target wheel-change time: within 30 seconds)
• Handle unexpected mechanical failures

Post-Race Tasks:

• Wash all bikes
• Inspect and service all components
• Prepare for the next day’s race
• Load the bikes onto the truck for transport to the next stop

A mechanic’s daily working hours during the Tour de Taiwan can exceed 16 hours. Their names will never appear on the results sheet, but without them, the riders couldn’t even make it to the start line.

Team Car Driver

Team cars are the vehicles you often see following the peloton in broadcasts. The driver’s tasks:

• Stay with the peloton: Maintain a safe distance from the group on winding mountain roads
• Relay instructions: Communicate tactical orders to riders via radio
• Provide supplies: Riders pull up alongside the team car and take bottles or food through the window
• Protect riders: On windy sections, the team car can provide some drafting effect for a lone rider

Driving a team car on the mountain roads of the Tour de Taiwan is a highly demanding skill. You need to stay with a peloton moving at 45 km/h on narrow mountain roads, avoid colliding with other team cars, and be ready to stop at any moment so the mechanic can jump out and make repairs.

Feed Zone Staff

Each stage has designated feed zones at specific locations. Team staff stand at the roadside holding musettes filled with bottles and food, ready to hand them out as riders pass by.

Technique:

• Precisely place the bag into the riders’ hands as they pass at 40+ km/h
• Don’t reach out too early (you’ll get hit by the riders in front)
• Don’t reach out too late (the rider has already passed)
• The force of the handoff must be just right—too much and you’ll pull the rider down

This action looks simple, but in practice it requires a great deal of practice and coordination.

Commissaires’ Panel

The commissaires’ panel for the 2026 Tour de Taiwan is responsible for:

• Confirming the race route and distance
• Monitoring rider behavior (illegal drafting, illegal feeding, etc.)
• Determining finish positions
• Enforcing the 3 km rule
• Handling disputes and appeals

The “route misdirection” incident on Stage 2 is a typical case requiring immediate handling by the commissaires’ panel—after the two leading riders were directed off course, the panel quickly made the decision to neutralize the race.

Medical Team

Each stage is equipped with at least:

• 2 ambulances
• Team doctors
• Medical stations along the route

In the crash on Stage 1, the medical team arrived at the scene within minutes to provide initial assessment and treatment to the injured riders.

Broadcast Team

Bringing the Tour de Taiwan live to audiences worldwide requires:

• Broadcast helicopter (aerial footage)
• Broadcast motorcycles (close-up filming)
• Fixed cameras (start and finish)
• Production control room (real-time editing and commentary)
• Satellite broadcast trucks (signal uplink)

The 2026 Tour de Taiwan was streamed live via ERA News YouTube and broadcast internationally on Eurosport, reaching over 60 countries and 20 languages.

A Tribute to the Unsung Heroes

A successful Tour de Taiwan requires the behind-the-scenes work of hundreds of people. From the mechanic’s wrench to the driver’s steering wheel, from the feed zone’s bottles to the medical team’s first-aid kits—these unseen hands support every thrilling race we watch.

Next time you watch the Tour de Taiwan, remember to cheer not only for the riders but also to pay tribute to those working quietly beyond the cameras.

Related Reading

• Behind the Scenes of a Pro Team: The Complete Support System from Team Doctor to Mechanic
• Tour de Taiwan Spectator’s Guide: How to Understand Road Bike Racing?
• Pro Cycling Team Car Strategy: A Complete Guide to Feeding and Mechanical Support
• How to Understand Road Cycling Broadcasts: An Introductory Guide for New Viewers