A ''directeur sportif'' (, ) is a person directing a
cycling team
A cycling team is a group of cycle sport, cyclists who join a team or are acquired and train together to compete in bicycle racing, bicycle races whether amateur or professional – and the supporting personnel. Cycling teams are most important i ...
during a
road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is the cycle sport discipline of road cycling, held primarily on Road surface, paved roads. Road racing is the most popular professional form of bicycle racing, in terms of numbers of competitors, events and spectators. The ...
event. It is seen as the equivalent to a field manager in baseball, or a head coach in football. At professional level, a directeur sportif follows the team in a car and communicates with riders, personnel and race officials by
radio
Radio is the technology of communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 3 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmitter connec ...
.
The directeur sportif warns of obstacles or challenging terrain, updates the team on the situation in the race, and provides mechanical help. The car carrying the directeur sportif also usually carries a
bicycle mechanic with spare
bikes,
wheels and parts. It also carries spare water bottles, food and medical equipment.
Since the late 1990s, the role has increased, in keeping with better team cohesion, tactics and
communication
Communication is commonly defined as the transmission of information. Its precise definition is disputed and there are disagreements about whether Intention, unintentional or failed transmissions are included and whether communication not onl ...
and
telemetry equipment. The directeur sportif can have split times, find where riders from other teams are in the race, and dictate orders to riders. This has made teamwork and tactics more important.
A directeur sportif can also be involved in the riders' training and racing programme. Many are former professionals, such as
Johan Bruyneel and
Sean Yates.
Gord Fraser described his role as directeur sportif as follows:
Several directeurs sportifs are also associated with famous riders whom they have nurtured.
Patrick Lefevere with
Johan Museeuw
Johan Museeuw (born 13 October 1965) is a retired Belgian professional road bicycle racer, road racing cyclist who was a professional from 1988 until 2004. Nicknamed ''The Lion of Flanders'', he was particularly successful in the cobbled classic ...
and
Tom Boonen,
Cyrille Guimard's relationship with
Lucien Van Impe,
Bernard Hinault
Bernard Hinault (; born 14 November 1954) is a French former professional road bicycle racing, road cyclist. With 147 professional victories, including five times the Tour de France, he is often named among the greatest cyclists of all time. In ...
, and later
Laurent Fignon as well as a young
Greg LeMond
Gregory James LeMond (born June 26, 1961) is an American former Road bicycle racing, road racing cyclist. He won the Tour de France thrice and the UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race, Road Race World Championship twice, becoming t ...
prior to his Tour victories;
Jean de Gribaldy with
Sean Kelly and
Joaquim Agostinho; and Bruyneel with
Lance Armstrong are examples. Others include Guillaume “Lomme” Driessens who was a Directeur for
Eddy Merckx
Édouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx (born 17 June 1945), known as Eddy Merckx (, ), is a Belgian former professional road and track cyclist racer who is the most successful rider in the history of competitive cycling. His victories include an ...
and
Roger Legeay who directed LeMond during his win in the
1990 Tour de France.
References
External links
Complete French site about Jean de Gribaldy
{{DEFAULTSORT:Directeur Sportif
Road bicycle racing terminology
Management occupations