Photos from the pits as mechanics work hard to assemble bikes for the Challenge Mallorca. Photos by Andy Jones
Many professional cycling teams will use the Challenge Mallorca (January 29-February 1) as a pre-season warm-up, fitting in the racing around training camps.
Part of that process is assembling the rider’s new bikes for the 2015 season, and an army of mechanics work all day and often all night to get bikes ready and tweaked as the riders’ like them.
Cycling Weekly photographer Andy Jones perused the pits to bring you this gallery.
A Lotto-Soudal mechanic works to get André Greipel’s Ridley bike built up
Checking the Campagnolo gears
No electronic gears for Greipel on this bike – he uses a mechanical set-up
Special frame graphics for ‘Gorilla’ Greipel
View of the cockpit of Greipel’s bike before the bar tape is added
The all-important weigh-in gets an audience: André Greipel’s bike tipped the scales at 7.25kg. Note the bar tape in the bottle cage
Movistar mechanic at work cleaning a chain on one of the team’s Canyon bikes
New Bontrager Speed Stop brakes on the Polish ActiveJet team’s Trek bikes.
MTN-Qhubeka mechanic assembles some cabling
Gluing on the tubs and pumping up in the MTN-Qhubeka van
Applying tub glue to rims
Steep stem position gives ultra-low riding position on Andreas Stauff’s Cervelo S5 bike
No shortage of tools, as you’d expect
A quick road test to make sure everything is working