While much of the sporting world is currently focused on the FIFA World Cup, at Wanscale we are already looking ahead. Behind the scenes, preparations for the upcoming Tour de France are well underway.
Together with BroadbandEU and Bridge4IP, our engineers are currently working on the communication infrastructure of the Visma | Lease a Bike team cars. Every vehicle is being prepared to perform under all circumstances throughout the three weeks of the Tour. Because while millions of cycling fans will soon be watching the battles unfold in the Alps and the Pyrenees, behind the scenes everything depends on one critical factor: reliable connectivity.
A World-Class Tour de France
For many people, the Tour de France is more than just a cycling race. It is the biggest annual event in professional cycling and, for millions of sports fans around the world, the ultimate showcase of the sport.
This year’s edition promises to be exceptionally exciting. Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard once again start as the leading contenders for the yellow jersey, while Remco Evenepoel will be determined to challenge their dominance. Fan favourites Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert will also line up at the start, creating one of the strongest and most competitive fields in recent years.
With a field of this calibre, every second matters and every decision can influence the outcome of the race.
The Team Car: much more than a vehicle
To spectators along the roadside, team cars simply follow the peloton. What is far less visible is what happens inside those vehicles.
The modern team car has evolved into a mobile command centre where all critical information streams come together. While the sports director navigates through the race convoy, live television feeds are monitored, route information is consulted, weather conditions are analysed and race situations are continuously assessed.
Through platforms such as VeloViewer, the team management has access to detailed information about climbs, descents, technical sections and key moments of the route. At the same time, communication from race officials is monitored through the traditional Radio Tour system, while direct communication with riders takes place via team radio.
Performance data, rider locations and other race information are constantly reviewed to support tactical decision-making. In many ways, today’s team car functions as a rolling control room that helps guide hundreds of decisions throughout every stage.
When information makes the difference
Modern cycling is increasingly decided by small details.
When should a rider conserve energy? When is the right moment to attack? How are competitors responding? What is happening further up the road?
The answers to these questions often depend on information that must be available in real time. A delayed video stream, a lost connection or missing race information can directly impact decision-making.
This is why connectivity has become an essential component of modern professional cycling. The team car must always have access to up-to-date information, regardless of where the race takes place.
Wanscale, BroadbandEU and Bridge4IP prepare for the Tour
To ensure the team cars perform flawlessly throughout the Tour de France, Wanscale, BroadbandEU and Bridge4IP are currently working closely together to prepare every Visma | Lease a Bike vehicle.
BroadbandEU provides the Starlink satellite connectivity solutions, Bridge4IP delivers the mobile 5G connectivity, and Wanscale acts as the intelligent layer that combines all available connections into a single reliable communication platform.
By intelligently combining multiple connectivity technologies, a network is created that remains available even under the most challenging conditions. Whether a team car is driving through a busy city centre, deep in the Alps or across a remote valley, team management must be able to rely on continuous access to critical information.
Every vehicle is currently being tested, validated and optimized to ensure peak performance throughout every stage of the Tour de France.
Starlink plays a key role
One of the technologies making a significant contribution is Starlink.
Satellite connectivity makes it possible to provide internet access in locations where traditional mobile networks may be limited or unavailable. This makes Starlink particularly suitable for highly mobile environments such as team cars that travel hundreds of kilometres every day through vastly different landscapes.
By combining Starlink with mobile 5G networks, an additional layer of resilience and reliability is created, supporting the modern operational requirements of professional cycling teams.
For Visma | Lease a Bike, this means critical applications such as video streaming, route analysis, weather information and communication platforms remain available even in demanding environments.
Behind every victory is communication
When millions of viewers watch the Tour de France this summer, their attention will naturally focus on the riders. The attacks of Pogačar, the climbing strength of Vingegaard, the explosiveness of Van der Poel and the versatility of Van Aert.
But behind every decision, every tactical move and every victory stands a team of specialists who depend on information.
And behind that information stands a communication platform that ensures people, applications, data and systems remain continuously connected.
The modern Tour de France is still won on the bike, but the team car has become the true command centre of the race. While the riders battle for the yellow jersey, Wanscale, BroadbandEU and Bridge4IP work behind the scenes to ensure that Visma | Lease a Bike can rely on what may well be one of the most important success factors in modern professional cycling: reliable connectivity.
Jos Beckers
