The sweeper car, or the broom wagon, trails the race and collects riders who are not able to complete the stage. The last car of the race group, it allows the local authorities to open the roads once it passes.
A broom wagon is deployed in professional bicycle races such as the Tour de France. It assists in logistics and influences the thoughts of the riders. For riders, riding in the back of the broom wagon typically indicates that they will not continue in the race or will not be included in the day’s results. It is necessary for safety reasons and comes with a time constraint—particularly in long races where there are tight time constraints. The broom wagon ensures that riders are not left alone on the course and assists as well as designates the finish of the race in long-distance riding.
