What happens to all those rides in the tour?

[kpas]

I have been a cycling fan for many years now, and have watched and raced in as many races as I can get my wheels in, but I have one great question for anyone that has every watch a race. What happens to all the bikes in those races? A little ding here or there...and I am sure they are replaced...I hope that they don't go to some surreal afterlife. I hope that they go to deserving spectators like they should. But alas...what really happens to all those rides?

 

[meehs]

Last year they auctioned off some of the US Postal riders' bikes on the Trek web site. They were in various states of disrepair (no wheels, no handlebars, torn saddle, etc...) but you could bid on them. Of course Lance's bikes weren't on there. Who knows what they do with all of the other ones???