Outside the camper, reporters and camera crews, autograph seekers and gawkers gather to catch a glimpse of Armstrong as he signs in for the stage and leaves for the start line. While the team has been relaxing, one of the soigneurs already has left for the next city's hotel, where he will get keys for all the rooms, place each rider's luggage in his room and start preparing the massage and chiropractic tables. If the feed zone crew is late leaving the start area, they can run into the ever-present traffic snarl that surrounds the Tour. Missing a feed zone could cause major problems for the team. They always get freaked, then they get there an hour early.
Anxiety is just part of the job.
Calif. He started working on Armstrong's bikes several years ago. He closed his shop for all of July to help his friend Armstrong try for a second championship. The RV and the big team bus leave the course and try a shortcut they've heard about. They squeeze through the tunnel that already has knocked the radio antenna off the big bus. On the course, team director Johan Bruyneel, a mechanic and sponsor guests have the best seats at the show.