The #CochesAzules in La Vuelta, ready to support all the riders in the pack

We have earned the trust of the main cycling competitions and teams in Spain and are recognizable by almost any cycling enthusiast. Shimano's #CochesAzules (BlueCars) are already an icon of the main cycling events in the country after almost two decades of providing technical assistance as neutral cars to cyclists of different modalities, in all types of events and in the most diverse circumstances.

This year 2018, the #CochesAzules will cover its eighteenth Vuelta a España, which is, without a doubt, not only the most important race of Spanish cycling, but also the one that reflects to the maximum the value and the importance of having a professional technical assistance team that is always ready to attend the teams that will participate in the race.

The Shimano #CochesAzules fleet is made up of a team of 12 expert professionals and a fleet of four cars, two motorcycles and a workshop truck that will follow the 21 stages of the Vuelta 2018.  

The vehicles are equipped with equipment fully compatible with that used by all cyclists in the race and has been selected after an exhaustive exchange of information with each and every one of the 22 teams that will participate in the Spanish tour this year. This way, the Shimano #CochesAzules can help any rider, any team, any component need that may arise during the race, even with a full bike in the case of the first qualifiers!

One of the keys to the performance of the #CochesAzules as neutral cars in the race is that their presence is always discreet but attentive to the evolution of the bunch. To this end, the cars are permanently connected to each other to coordinate their movements, and to the Race Direction.

All this implies an intense prior information and preparation work that aims to provide service to all the riders of the Vuelta. But the #CochesAzules are so discreet that they can go unnoticed.

Here are some facts about what's behind it, and especially what's inside our cars:

DID YOU KNOW…?

At each stage, the #CochesAzules vehicle behind the bunch carries 3 bikes with the exact equipment and measurements of the top three cyclist in the General standings.

Each car is equipped with two different radio systems, the first to connect Shimano's cars and motorcycles to each other and the second to Radio Vuelta, so that they can follow the contacts between the Race Direction and the teams.

All materials and components of the #CochesAzules are compatible with those used by all equipment, regardless of brand.

After the green light from the UCI to the use of disc brakes in road racing last July, the #CochesAzules have included among their equipment bicycles with these brakes and wheels for disc brakes, in all cases with developments adapted to the characteristics of each stage.

•  All the stuff carried by the fleet
• 16 bicycles with rim brakes
• 8 bicycles with disc brakes
• 52 wheels for rim brakes
• 20 wheels for disc brakes
• 60 Vittoria road tubes
• 40 Vittoria road tires in different widths
• 8 tool boxes
• 8 boxes of spare parts
• 8 workshop pumps
• Pedals of the three systems on the market
• 1,520 litres of Named Sport hydrafit isotonic drink
• 750 Named Sport energy bars
• 650 Named Sport gels
• 8 Shimano umbrellas....

...and snacks for the mechanics, although they don't always have time to eat them!