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'I worked with the unsung heroes of the Tour de France who cyclists can't race without'

EXCLUSIVE Daily Star Sport spent the day at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift working with Shimano's neutral service team to see how they keep the iconic cycling race ticking along

[Will Schofield]

Daily Star Sport went behind the scenes at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift(Image: Will Schofield)

The Cauberg rises steeply, almost suddenly, out of Valkenburg.

In all reality, there's not a lot special about it. It's not the steepest climb in the area, far from it, and it's not the longest either - it's just a main road, leading to Maastricht, with two bike lanes straddled on either side.

And yet today, fans in their thousands have flocked to this inconspicuous climb - as many as three deep in some sections. Some even climbing on top of walls, hanging onto trees, trying to find the best vantage point.

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That was the scene from the Shimano Neutral Service car on Wednesday (August 14) morning. However, it's a scene that's all too familiar for the driver, Bruno Mallet.

Myself and Bruno's paths crossed last summer when I went behind the scenes of the men's Tour de France - and here, in the Netherlands, I was welcomed back by Shimano to go behind the scenes of the women's event.

Did you watch the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift this summer? Let us know in the comments section below

[Fans line the Cauberg]

The famous climb of the Cauberg hosted the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift(Image: Leon van Bron, Joris Knappen / Shimano)

Shimano, in the past, has been hailed as the "unsung heroes" of the Tour de France. Shimano's job as neutral service is simple: provide service to all the teams at the Grand Boucle - among many other races.

The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift had rolled into action over the weekend - starting in Rotterdam before weaving its way down to Alpe d'Huez.

Today it was the midway point - and the peloton were taking on some of the most famous roads in cycling. The Cauberg was first on the agenda, the climb that is the centrepiece of the Amstel Gold Race, the biggest one-day race in the Netherlands.

[Shimano Neutral Service car on La Redoute]

Daily Star Sport was invited to follow the race in the Shimano Neutral Service car(Image: Leon van Bron, Joris Knappen / Shimano)

We were ahead of the race for both passes of the famous climb - leaving me time to soak up the atmosphere. It's easy to forget, with the sheer amount of people on the roadside, this was only the third edition of the women's event.

However, for Bruno, it was business; he noted how narrow the roads were down the descent - our call to action could be sooner than anticipated. Thankfully, every rider stayed on their bike as they tackled another famous hill: the Bemelerberg.

In the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, each team has two support vehicles, but when the gap is too small, or they're spread too thin, that's when neutral service jumps in.

[Shimano Neutral Service branding]

Shimano provide neutral service at the Tour de France Femmes(Image: Leon van Bron, Joris Knappen / Shimano)

We remained ahead of the race until Movistar's Sara Martin jumped away from the pack - her gap grew big enough for our car to slot in.

Shimano, in the absence of her own team car, was now her point of contact. Need a wheel? No problem. Running low on gels or water? Shimano has you covered. How about a place to store your rain jacket? Hand it over.

Martin braved the conditions - which had started to take a turn for the worst - on her own, no riders had dared to join her. The Spaniard soon grew the gap far enough out (around one minute) that allowed her team car to slot in ahead of the neutral service car.

[Shimano Neutral Service car following an FDJ Suez rider]

Shimano Neutral Service provide mechanical assistance to all the teams at the race(Image: Leon van Bron, Joris Knappen / Shimano)

However, that advantage tumbled when she was forced to stop at a train crossing. The peloton, in the blink of an eye, were on her and around us.

"The car needs to go first," Bruno barked, gesturing to riders, who had seized the opportunity to jump to the front of the pack, out of the way. It wasn't long until we were ahead of the race again, and Martin was back in the pack.

It was far from day done for Bruno and his mechanic - they still had to stay alert for any more attacks that might cause them to re-enter the race.

[Finish of the Tour de France Femmes]

Puck Pieterse took the win in a sprint finish(Image: Leon van Bron, Joris Knappen / Shimano)

As we took on more famous climbs, where the roads were barely visible thanks to the throngs of fans, fireworks were erupting in the race. The defending champion Demi Vollering had taken flight on the fearsome La Redoute - and only two riders could follow.

Kasia Niewiadoma, who has come so close to a big win numerous times in her career, and young super talent Puck Pieterse.

Bruno kept a close eye on the time gap, which was constantly being relayed over the radio. Stretching up to 45 seconds, it looked like we might have to jump back in behind the flying trio - however, that never came to action.

[Puck Pieterse]

Puck Pieterse would take the first big win of her career(Image: Leon van Bron, Joris Knappen / Shimano)

"You have to be adaptable, the gap was too small," Bruno explained. He's a veteran of this, working on his first Tour in 1997.

Pieterse would take the stage, but it would be Niewiadoma and Vollering who would do battle for the overall title. Niewiadoma would take yellow the following day after some rotten luck for Vollering - and she would never relinquish it.

Niewiadoma earned the hearts of fans as she turned herself inside out to cling on to the yellow jersey by four seconds on Sunday (August 18) atop Alpe d'Huez - winning her first Tour.

As Niewiadoma found every ounce of strength to win her maiden title, Shimano's neutral service was there following closely behind, ready to assist, unseen but so important to the race.

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