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Liquid insurance: The policy no one's buying at the Tour de France

  • Liquid sealants are easy to inject into a tubular tire as all of the pro-level ones incorporate a removable valve core and dedicated syringes and fittings are readily available.

    Liquid sealants are easy to inject into a tubular tire as all of the pro-level ones incorporate a removable valve core and dedicated syringes and fittings are readily available.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Effetto Mariposa's Caffelatex includes a foaming agent to help seal sidewall cuts faster.

    Effetto Mariposa's Caffelatex includes a foaming agent to help seal sidewall cuts faster.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Photo credit © James Huang

  • Lance Armstrong (Team Radioshack) suffered a puncture late in Stage 3, losing time to Alberto Contador (Astana) and other main rivals and expending valuable energy in the process.

    Lance Armstrong (Team Radioshack) suffered a puncture late in Stage 3, losing time to Alberto Contador (Astana) and other main rivals and expending valuable energy in the process.

    Photo credit © Bettini

  • Lance Armstrong (Team Radioshack) buries himself to minimize the time lost after an unfortunate puncture late in Stage 3. Might the current situation be different if he had been using a bit of sealant in his tires?

    Lance Armstrong (Team Radioshack) buries himself to minimize the time lost after an unfortunate puncture late in Stage 3. Might the current situation be different if he had been using a bit of sealant in his tires?

    Photo credit © Bettini

  • Team cars are stocked with spares and teammates are often available to tow a key rider back up to the bunch but some punctures simply come at such a critical time that no amount of pacing can reverse the damage in terms of time loss.

    Team cars are stocked with spares and teammates are often available to tow a key rider back up to the bunch but some punctures simply come at such a critical time that no amount of pacing can reverse the damage in terms of time loss.

    Photo credit © Bettini