NANCY, France — Television production of the Tour de France is a technological and logistical marvel involving fleets of motorcycles, helicopters and airplanes. But it lacks one element that has long been a part of motorsports broadcasting: onboard live cameras.

The 2014 edition of the Tour is not quite there. This year, though, for the first time, special exemptions by cycling’s governing body allow teams to fit tiny video cameras on the front or back of some riders’ bikes. On-bike video recordings have long been a staple at amateur bike races, though the results are often little more than vanity projects. And even some cycling commuters strap cameras onto their bikes or helmets to capture dubious maneuvers and behaviors of passing drivers.

But it took until May for the International Cycling Union to give the Tour of California a rule exemption making it the first major professional race to experiment with cameras that take viewers inside the pack. The results, particularly a sequence documenting a sprint for a stage finish by John Degenkolb of the Giant-Shimano team, rapidly became online sensations in the cycling world. Now, at least nine teams at this year’s Tour are experimenting with their bikes as camera platforms. For the moment, however, the videos are being recorded for online posting or postrace broadcasts.

While it is still early in the experiment, it appears many professional riders, who generally are particular about adding anything to their bikes, are enthusiastic about doubling up as camera operators.