Hincapie Racing Team Chief Soigneur Brian Doege takes a break in the team RV before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Course maps seen inside the Hincapie Racing Team RV during stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Garment bags loaded into Hincapie Racing Team car during stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
A Hincapie Racing Team Felt F1 rests next to a team car before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
A timing chip seen on Hincapie Racing Team's Felt F1 before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Hincapie Racing Team Chief Soigneur Brian Doege walks to apply kinesio tape to a rider before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Chief Soigneur Brian Doeger of Hincapie Racing Team applies kinesio tape to a rider before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Hincapie Racing Team Chief Soigneur Brian Doege (L) applies kinesio tape to Ty Magner before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Hincapie Racing Team Chief Mechanic Casey Magner cleans the rim of a wheel before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Hincapie Racing Team Chief Soigneur Brian Doege (L) kicks a soccer ball with Chief Mechanic Casey Magner (R) before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Hincapie Racing Team Soigneur Rachel McAlister cleans the window of the team van before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Hincapie Racing Team Chief Soigneur Brian Doege (L) chats with Chief Sports Director Thomas Craven before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Hincapie Racing Team rider Ty Magner (C) kicks a soccer ball with Chief Soigneur Brian Doege outside the team hotel before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in SACRAMENTO, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Members of Hincapie Racing Team sit in the team van before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Hincapie Racing Team Chief Soigneur Brian Doege (L) chats with rider Robin Carpenter as they leave the hotel to stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
A charging bike computer is seen dangling on the side of the Hincapie Racing Team RV before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Hincapie Racing Team Chief Soigneur Brian Doege transfers water bottles before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Brian Doege, Chief Soigneur of Hincapie Racing Team carries water bottles before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Porter Baker, assistant mechanic of Hincapie Racing Team, tapes a note onto the stem of a bike before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Members of the Hincapie Racing Team prepare their bikes before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Joe Lewis of the Hincapie Racing Team places rice cakes into his jersey pocket before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
A Team Hincapie Racing rider reads the course map before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Andzs Flaksis (R) of Team Hincapie Racing fist bumps chief soigneur Brian Doege before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Brian Doege, chief soigneur of Team Hincapie Racing, sprints towards the team van before stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Team Hincapie Racing Chief Soigneur Brian Doege checks the race reports on his phone while waiting for the riders to arrive at the feed zone during stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Team Hincapie Racing Chief Soigneur Brian Doege holds a bottle as the peloton arrive at the feed zone during stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Team Hincapie Racing Chief Mechanic Casey Magner looks out of the team car as it drives by the feed zone during stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
A dented trunk on a Team Hincapie Racing car resulting from a collision in the race caravan is seen in the feed zone during stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Team Hincapie Racing soigneurs Emma Caughlin (L) and Rachel McAlister walk back to the team van after passing out bottles at the feed zone during stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Team Hincapie Racing Chief Soigneur Brian Doege prepares for the finish during stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Team Hincapie Racing Chief Soigneur Brian Doege (R) hugs a member of the Jamis - Hagen Berman racing team as they wait for the finish during stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Joe Schmalz (L) and Ty Magner of the Hincapie Racing Team rest after competing in stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Hincapie Racing Team Chief Soigneur Brian Doege (C) and soigneur Emma Laughlin (R) look for riders at the finish line after stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Joe Schmalz (C) and Oscar Clark (R) of the Hincapie Racing Team walk onto the team RV after competing in stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Members of the Hincapie Racing Team clean up inside the team RV after competing in stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Hincapie Racing Team Chief Soigneur Brian Doege (c) shares a conversation with team staffers after stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Members of the Hincapie Racing Team prepare to ride their bikes back to the hotel after stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Hincapie Racing Team Chief Soigneur kisses rider Joe Schmalz in the RV after stage one of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 10, 2015.
While shooting the Amgen Tour of California from the back of the motorbike is as fun and up close as you can get, I’ve always been fascinated by the behind the scenes of the story … the preparation and the hard work of the unsung heroes who keep each team running throughout the race.
To get an insider’s view of this Tour de France-style road race, we embedded with Hincapie Racing Team’s Chief Soigneur, Brian Doeger. A soigneur is essentially a caretaker of the riders similar to how there is a mechanic to take care of the bicycles.
So there I was at the team hotel about an hour earlier than I was supposed to meet the team. After a quick text to Brian, I immediately started to follow him around as he took care of his riders: Getting the cars ready, organizing the food, taping the riders, cracking some jokes and, most importantly, drinking his three inches of coffee and playing soccer as we waited for our time to leave.
It was now two hours prior to start and the parking lot was buzzing with activities, riders coming down (“Oh hey there’s Sagan”), team buses making their way to the start while getting mixed in with a steady stream of dog owners who were also staying at the same hotel for a dog show.
Boom, go time. So Brian and the crew loaded the van with the riders while the speakers were blasting “Cashin’ Out” by Ca$h Out (we actually played it twice, true story). As we collectively watched in amusement as Team Sky tried to figure out how to open the parking lot gate, it suddenly dawned on me that as serious as these guys were about racing, they were having a blast doing what they do and it showed.
It’s obviously a ton of work to get a team running like a well-oiled machine: Lots of hurry up and wait, hours spent behind the wheel (Brian will have driven across the country six times this season), passing out bottles to riders going full gas at the feedzone, navigating through the crowd to hand out recovery drinks, cheering up the team in the RV and giving post-race massages.
And as I am here writing and watching Tom Skujins on his way to a stunning solo win at Stage 3 of the Tour of California, here are the behind the scenes of a young pro cycling team that races with the best and has a lot of fun while doing so.
