Tour de France with ŠKODA KAROQ

It says a lot about pro-cycling when the first member of the team you're introduced to is the cook.  Jesper Boom has been feeding pro-cyclists for a few years, and if the name rings a bell, it's because he's the younger brother of Tour de France stage winner Lars Boom.

Timo Roosen (middle) asks what's on the menu

Throughout the day, the Dutch team were treated to cabbage stuffed with meat, quinoa, a lot of potatoes, cured meats on rye bread, veal, and salad.  Jesper serves the team, "lots of traditional Dutch food..." and as we're chatting the cyclists return from their morning's training ride.  Sure enough, the pros are keen to learn more about how their calories intake will be dressed up.

Team cook Jesper Boom (right) contemplates the evening menu

Following food, the next most important topic of conversation are the stunningly beautiful Bianchi bikes – how they're handling, if there are any niggling problems, or room for improvement in their setup. It's tangible just how much respect the cyclists have for their mechanics, and Robert Gesink spent some time chatting with Tony Arts, a mechanic who, prior to joining LottoNL-Jumbo, spent 20 odd years with Rabobank.

Tony Arts (left) the veteran mechanic examines Gesink's bike

Finishing sixth in the 2015 Tour de France and winning the Tour of California's Yellow Jersey in 2012 Gesink is a much-respected member of the grand tour peloton. Friendly and energetic, even for a pro-cyclist, Gesink was happy to chat and joke, but clearly wanted more time on his bike. As soon as he finished debriefing Arts, Gesink hit the trainer – as Primož Roglič told me, "it's not much of a training ride in a city".

The riders are also lucky to have Dirk Van de Ven working on their bikes. Young, agile, and intense, Van de Ven immediately struck me as a real asset - he's been with LottoNL-Jumbo for a couple of years and is often found riding in the back of the team car.

In the eventuality of a crash or mechanical problem with the bike, Van de Ven's job is to jump out the team car, replace bikes, wheels, or simply help a cyclist get back in the saddle.

He's got to think fast, act quickly, and be absolutely sure that all the tools at his disposal are fit for purpose. Having spent an afternoon watching him tape handlebars and levelling every seat, I asked what he'd be doing the morning of the race, "I'll be doing it all again."

Van de Ven takes notes from Gesink

Watching Tony Arts expertly clean the fleet of Bianchis, before degreasing and greasing up the drive chains, is one of the most hypnotic sights I've ever had the pleasure to witness. An almost zen like meditative experience, I learned that clean vehicles is not only a technical necessity – it helps put the athletes' minds at rest. A clean vehicle offers peace of mind.

The race ready ŠKODA KAROQ – ready for action in a secret location

Arts cleans a bike in front of a freshly washed team vehicle

One thing that struck me about the ŠKODA OCTAVIA's parked up by the team bus was the absence of radio antennae. A quick chat with the management let me know that a secret vehicle would be making its first public world debut in the time-trial – a brand new ŠKODA KAROQ was hidden in a back street, and I got to take a closer look.