What is the black stick below the riders' saddles at the Tour de France?
Using a black stick, Dimension Data is providing Tour de France viewers with real time data analytics for every rider


You may have noticed the black plastic stick jutting out from the back of riders saddle during the Tour de France and wondered what they are.
These are transmitters used by the Tour's official technology partner Dimension Data – the company that sponsor's the team of the same name – to collect real-time data from riders during the race.
First seen during the Critérium du Dauphiné in 2015 and the subsequent Tour, the collection device has been upgraded for 2016 to collect more data, including gradient, temperature and wind speed as well as a GPS tracker to give rider location and speed.
All data is received by Dimension Data's big truck, where the raw numbers are transformed into meaningful stats.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbBz_qlazho
The idea is that Dimension Data analyses the stats transmitted to provide viewers with enough data to enhance the viewing experience, as well as providing accurate position of all 198 riders for the calculation of time gaps.
So what does this all mean? It is not just broadcasters that have access to exactly where each rider is on the road at any given moment.
In addition to watching the stage on television, you can either go to the Dimension Data website or use the Tour de France app to track the riders' position along with other data that may be of interest.
This article was updated for 2016
Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
-
-
The general classification just got even tighter: Five talking points from stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia 2022
There was climbing, climbing, and more climbing on Tuesday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Wider S-Works Torch replaces popular Specialized shoes - and our tech writers had very different first impressions
Wider, lighter, more comfortable and better looking - here's the story behind the development of the S-Works Torch plus our first ride impressions
By Simon Smythe • Published