The Broom Wagon (not to be confused with a Sag Wagon) is the name for the vehicle that follows a Cycle Road Race picking up stragglers (or sweeping them up) who are unable to make it to the finish of the race within the time permitted.
In the Tour de France the vehicle used was traditionally a Citroën H Van. The expression broom wagon is a translation of the French, voiture balai, and it was seen first at the Tour de France 1910. The broom wagon of the Tour de France did indeed once carry a broom fixed above the driver's cab – except in the years that it was sponsored by a vacuum-cleaner company.
The usage of a broom wagon has expanded to other sports events – especially in marathon events a broom wagon is a common feature. In the various marathon races many people from the neighbourhood join in who are not able to reach the finish line within time such that the broom wagon puts an end to their effort. Also offroad races like the Dakar Rally have come to use a broom wagon that follows on the track picking up motorists who have broken down in between.
The broom wagon (used in racing) can be said to be distinct from a sag wagon. Though some believe that "SAG" is an acronym which stands for Supplies (or Support) and Gear, it may simply refer to tired riders who are "sagging". By extension, cycle-touring groups which have a vehicle to carry their luggage and food are now said to be "sagged" in that they have a vehicle that carries supplies and gear for the participants in the ride.
Read more about Broom Wagon: Broom Bike
Famous quotes containing the words broom and/or wagon:
“If the juggler is tired now, if the broom stands
In the dust again, if the table starts to drop
Through the daily dark again, and though the plate
Lies flat on the table top,
For him we batter our hands
Who has won for once over the world’s weight.”
—Richard Wilbur (b. 1921)
“We joined long wagon trains moving south; we met hundreds of wagons going north; the roads east and west were crawling lines of families traveling under canvas, looking for work, for another foothold somewhere on the land.... The country was ruined, the whole world was ruined; nothing like this had ever happened before. There was no hope, but everyone felt the courage of despair.”
—Rose Wilder Lane (1886–1968)