Yellow bikes ridden by the Maillot Jaune rider

[digitalformula]

Sorry if this is a stupid question but how do the current maillot jaune riders get their yellow bikes & kit so dang fast?

Tony Gallopin is on one as I write this but "only" received the maillot jaune yesterday.

Do they paint up special bikes overnight or have them ready, just in case?

Asking as I've always assumed every TDF-level rider has a totally custom-frame built for their measurements and therefore it would be close to impossible to have a just-in-case yellow bike ready for every rider ...

 

[Afrank]

Maybe the bike sponsors make them in advance. Just in case.

Not entirely sure how that process works though.

 

[digitalformula]

Maybe the bike sponsors make them in advance. Just in case.

Not entirely sure how that process works though.

That seems logical, thanks.

It's pretty cool - there have been KOM jersey wearers on polka-dot bikes the next day, too. Hello fast turn-around on paint job (although I guess a few red dots are easier than a totally yellow bike).

 

[manafana]

assume most brands will do up 2or3 tdf edition frames which they can always offload, most the warehouses in mainland europe so overnight it to the race i assume

 

[digitalformula]

assume most brands will do up 2or3 tdf edition frames which they can always offload, most the warehouses in mainland europe so overnight it to the race i assume

That's a good point, too. It would be fairly easy to offload those frames later, especially to those that want "Alberto's bike" (or whatever) after the tour has finished.

There are loads of people out there that can afford them, after all.

 

[VanBsr]

That seems logical, thanks.

It's pretty cool - there have been KOM jersey wearers on polka-dot bikes the next day, too. Hello fast turn-around on paint job (although I guess a few red dots are easier than a totally yellow bike).

They paint the bikes/helmets during the night in team trucks.Special clothing it's usually delivered during rest days or even before if the team expect to get the jersey (ex: Trek/OPQS-when first stage is a prologue)

 

[winkybiker]

When Tommy V. made it into yellow a few years back, Colnago made him a custom new yellow C59 overnight, and shipped it to the start.

 

[digitalformula]

When Tommy V. made it into yellow a few years back, Colnago made him a custom new yellow C59 overnight, and shipped it to the start.

That was totally worth it, too. Ten days in yellow - epic.

 

[Race Radio]

Sorry if this is a stupid question but how do the current maillot jaune riders get their yellow bikes & kit so dang fast?

Tony Gallopin is on one as I write this but "only" received the maillot jaune yesterday.

Do they paint up special bikes overnight or have them ready, just in case?

Asking as I've always assumed every TDF-level rider has a totally custom-frame built for their measurements and therefore it would be close to impossible to have a just-in-case yellow bike ready for every rider ...

Ridley painted the bike yesterday and drove it to the race. Not hard for them as they started out as a paint shop