Smart Beds, Cold Rice Pudding, and Magic Urinals: How Bike Racers Beat the Heat at the Tour de France

The 2024 Tour de France has become the hottest in history, with temperatures reaching 41 degrees Celsius — that is 105 degrees Fahrenheit — during one stage. Rider Tom Pidcock called it a 'warzone' and said he drank through thousands of water bottles just to stay hydrated. Champion Tadej Pogačar warned that keeping body temperature down is not just about performance — it can be a matter of safety. France has already seen three heatwaves this year, making cycling's reliance on the outdoors a serious challenge.

One of the most unusual tools at the race belongs to Spanish team Caja Rural. They have a smart urinal on their team bus that scans a rider's urine in just 10 seconds and gives a hydration score out of 100. It also measures salt levels and fluid loss. The same technology is used by big soccer clubs like Arsenal and Barcelona, but Caja Rural is the first cycling team to use it.

Norwegian-Danish team Uno-X uses science to help riders handle hot weather. Coach Olav Aleksander Bu says that where you grow up does not decide how well you handle heat. His team focuses on plasma volume — the amount of fluid in a rider's blood — so the body can cool the skin and fuel the muscles at the same time. They also use a small sensor called CORE, which clips to a rider's belt and sends live temperature data to team computers.

Lidl-Trek sprinter Mads Pedersen won a stage on the race's hottest day. His team says he trained for months in heavy clothes like painter's suits to raise his body temperature on purpose, a method called heat acclimation. He also spent time in saunas and hot baths before the race. On race days, he wears a vest filled with ice and drinks slushy drinks before the start.

What riders eat also changes in the heat. High temperatures make digestion harder, so Uno-X nutritionist James Moran switches his team to liquid carbohydrates instead of solid food on hot days. Riders aim to consume more than 120 grams of carbohydrates per hour because the body burns fuel faster when it is hot. Before his stage win, Pedersen ate cold rice pudding, pancakes, and smoothies instead of the usual oatmeal.

Sleep matters too. UAE Team Emirates uses smart mattress covers made by a company called Eight Sleep to help every rider sleep better. The device tracks heart rate and sleep stages, then adjusts the mattress temperature automatically. A full-time technician travels with the team to set up the beds at every hotel for all three weeks.

Jersey design has also become a science. Teams use lighter, more breathable fabrics so sweat can evaporate and cool the body. Some teams have moved to lighter colors because dark jerseys absorb more heat. Uno-X brought back zippers so riders can open their jerseys during hot stages to let in more air.

Teams also study how much salt riders lose in their sweat. Some riders lose a lot of sodium and need to replace it carefully, while others need a different plan. This information shapes each rider's personal hydration strategy for every stage. Some training camps are now chosen partly because they offer the chance to practice in the heat.