The biggest race on the cycling calendar can pose plenty of headaches for team mechanics.
Last year, for example, a cobbled stage meant pavé -busting tech was called in, while this year it was the stage 18 mountain time trial which asked plenty of questions of team mechanics and, of course, riders.
![](https://coresites-cdn-adm.imgix.net/rcuk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Pinarello-Bolide-time-trial-bike-Chris-Froome-Tour-de-France-2016-stage-18-individual-time-trial-pic-Sirotti.jpg)
How do you balance the aerodynamics needed for an individual time trial, with the low weight and comfort which could help deliver faster results uphill? Should you go for a full TT setup, stick with a road bike, or try and strike a balance between the two? Wear a time trial helmet, aero road helmet, or a regular road lid?
And those were questions which produced plenty of different answers on stage 18 as Chris Froome (using a full Pinarello Bolide TT setup, for the record) won the stage and put time into his rivals overall.
Let’s take a look at some of the solutions the WorldTour’s finest opted for in the gallery below.
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