This was perhaps our favorite vehicle in the publicity caravan.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Alcatel OneTouch's mascot flies high above the crowd.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Fancy an inexpensive hotel for the night?(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Kangaroos of all shapes and sizes were littered throughout the Tour de France. Australians have certainly come out in force in support of current champion Cadel Evans and the Australia-based Orica-Greenedge team.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Professional rider Andreas Klier created MyKnoaky so that people would always have a bit of wood to knock on for luck. A new collaboration with I Ride for the Kids helps families cope with the challenges of a child who falls ill.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
We've certainly been eating out fair share of St. Michel madeleines in the press room. Oftentimes, it's the only food available.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
In fairness, chocolate milk is supposedly good for recovery.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Catching up on the day's news.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
This fellow was dressed as an historical French postman.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
These Kleber publicity caravan vehicles would have been even more impressive if it actually rolled on the giant single tire.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Only those with appropriate credentials can enter the official start village and team parking areas but the regions just on the other side of the barricades are filled with vendors hawking souvenirs.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
This contraption meandered about inside the start village each morning. The tight confines unfortunately didn't leave enough room to run.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
This giant bottle of Vittel actually looks like it could be quite aerodynamic.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Workers on the publicity caravan vehicles are secured with harnesses for safety.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
No trip to the Tour de France would be complete without an encounter with the ever-cheerful Haribo mascot.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Strangely enough, we actually never came across a Courtepaille restaurant while following the early stages of the Tour de France.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Company mascots are scattered throughout the start area at the beginning of each day.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Anyone fancy a baguette?(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
We were a little disappointed that the bread oven on this float wasn't actually operational.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Aerobars are just the thing to help this three-wheeled penny farthing cut through the wind.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The sound system on this bike is apparently based on a Nintendo Wii.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
So how exactly does one create a rolling bubble machine? Simple: just mix soapy water, a slowly rotating motor, a fan, and a bunch of loops and you're off to the races.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Clothing company Le Coq Sportif certainly makes good use of its name.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The UCI would certainly take issue with the fact that this rider isn't wearing a helmet.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
British tire company Kleber has used a boxer as its mascot since 1971.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Festina appears to use the same caravan vehicles each year.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
French bottled water company Vittel fielded several vehicles in the publicity caravan with giant tanks to spray down spectators with cool mist.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
This article originally published on BikeRadar
The Tour de France is first and foremost cycling's biggest and most prestigious stage race in the world but preceding the peloton from start to finish is another spectacle: the publicity caravan. Consisting of dozens of elaborately crafted specialty vehicles and taking nearly an hour to pass, it's a daily parade – and a parade of advertising and small giveaways – that, according to the Tour de France, is actually the main draw for nearly 40 percent of spectators on hand.
Take a look at some of the elements that bring all those people in. The Tour de France may be a bicycle race but for at least a portion of the folks at roadside, the peloton is merely a sideshow.
