What is that?

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by GoPatrickGoWSU
When watching the tour this year I have noticed a small yellow thing on most of the bikes right around the riders heel on the left side of the bike. Does anyone know what this is? My guess is that it counts the cadence or its somekind of a new GPS thing for the refs.

Your not far wrong with the GPS. It's an electronic transponder so the judges know exactly what time each rider crossed the finish line in.

Although I have wondered myself, does anyone know what happens when a rider changes bikes?

We use those things here in South Africa aswell. All our fun rides are timed that way. We strap it around our ankles. Don't know why the ridersin the TdF don't do the same. Maybe they've got one on every bike. Otherwise, they lose the info.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Columbia
Your not far wrong with the GPS. It's an electronic transponder so the judges know exactly what time each rider crossed the finish line in.

Although I have wondered myself, does anyone know what happens when a rider changes bikes?

Correct. If a rider has a bike change, they revert to the old finish line camera to place him.

This is why all results are posted first as provisional until the camera can be checked.