How one American team at the Tour de France is keeping riders cool when hotels don't have AC

SAUVETERRE-DE-COMMINGES, France, July 11 — On the big Pyrenean stages at the Tour de France, riders push themselves to the limit as they race over massive mountains and storm down high-speed descents. On TV it all looks so epic, with tens of thousands of spectators lining the roads cheering wildly against a backdrop of beautiful vistas, but when you come to the Pyrenees in person the blazing sun hits you immediately. You don't quite get that from watching the race on TV, but it can be an intense atmosphere.

For the riders, the sultry conditions make racing harder and recovery between stages more complicated. Even under the best conditions, sleeping becomes a challenge for these world-class cyclists as they get further into this three-week race. Their bodies becomes "wired," sports director Charly Wegelius told Business Insider. Many riders will tell you it gets harder to sleep, especially if the hotel you're staying in has no air-conditioning.

Knowing that, the American Cannondale-Drapac team brought cooling mattress toppers called ChiliPads from the US. Kevin Reichlin, the team's chiropractor, found out about the product in the offseason and brought it to the attention of team boss Jonathan Vaughters, who asked Reichlan to bring nine of the pads to the Tour, one for each rider. They cost $450 to $1,100.

Here's how they help keep the best cyclists cool and comfortable at the Tour de France:

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The company claims the ChiliPads cool to as low as 55 degrees F and warm up to 110.

The way the ChiliPads work is simple: You roll out the pad on a bed, fill up the control unit with water, plug it in, and then set the desired temperature. Cooled water is pumped through tubes in the pad, recirculating through the night.

This was the ChiliPad set up for Frenchman Pierre Rolland after stage eight of the Tour de France, a day that saw him crash into a wall and scrape up his left side.

The first time the riders tried the ChiliPad was after stage eight, the first day in the Pyrenees. The team was staying at an old hotel in the French countryside, and while it was a beautiful place, there was no AC. What's more, the team's leader, Rolland, was nursing injuries after a crash in the race. He arrived at the hotel with lots of road rash on his left side. Getting a good night's sleep would be difficult but necessary for recovery. The ChiliPad was seen as a way to help him sleep more soundly. Five other riders also asked to use the pad.

The control unit for the ChiliPad, where you pour in the water and set the temperature.