In the front seat with the 'Guardian Angels' of the peloton...

Vittoria Servizio Corse

Well known for their quality tyres, the distinctive white liveried vehicles of Vittoria also provide world class neutral service, most notably to Italy's most celebrated road races, including the Giro d'Italia.

Courtesy of Michael Elson, UK Sales Manager, I was lucky enough to experience a day with 'Vittoria's angels' on Stage II of the Aviva Women's Tour.

Car 1 ready to roll

Of the three car, six person team of drivers and mechanics, we are car one - positioned to roll out ahead of the start. Our job will be to stay ahead of the action until we are called to follow the day's break (providing there is one!!). We roll out of Braintree ahead of the action, effectively at the head of the race convoy, once again the crowds are superb and many wave frantically at us - it feels almost like celebrity status!

Being so far in front of the peloton we are entirely reliant on race radio for what is happening behind us... for kilometre after kilometre this isn't much. A few team cars are called to the peloton for various reasons - clothing, punctures, a minor crash. I begin to think that there won't be a break today! As the longest stage at 138km the initial hesitancy doesn't surprise me.

Eventually, after 31km we hear that there is a breakaway, Vera Koedooder (Bigla) has slipped the bunch and appears to be staying away, she's eventually joined by Sarah Roy (Orica-AIS) and with Vera on the front the two-up break looks like it is the decisive move of the day. We are called forward at last!

More than just tyres and bikes, the first job is to replenish the drinks bottles, which are passed from the mechanic in the back to the driver and to the riders from the left hand side of the car. It is only moments after this that Vera puts her hand up to indicate that she has a problem - a flat rear tyre....

She drops back to the car at the same time as we accelerate to get to her without delay - with the slick efficiency of an F1 team she has a new wheel and is on her way again. Within moment she slips back to the car indicating that her brakes need adjusting... not the easiest job with the car in motion!

Perhaps this chain of events gives the peloton the advantage that it appeared to need as with only 4km to go it became clear that the winner was, yet again, going to come from a bunch sprint. The commissaire had pulled us clear way before this point, so it was under the flamme rouge, into the final kilometre and into the car park by the seafront in Clacton for us. Just in time to see the peloton fly past us and up the finish straight in the Essex sunshine. First over the line - sprinter Jolien d'Hoore of Wiggle Honda. Not going unrecognised for driving a substantial breakaway that may well have stayed away had it not been for the mechanical misfortunes, Vera was rewarded with the YodelDirect Combativity award.

Vittoria's guardian angels have completed another day of professional support. We part company as they are transferring up to Oundle for the start of stage 3 and I am, unfortunately, going back to Ipswich to collect my car and head home, albeit inspired and motivated to get back into my own training.