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Adirecteur sportif (French:[diʁɛktœʁspɔʁtif],lit. 'sporting director') is a person directing acycling team during aroad bicycle racing 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 byradio.
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 abicycle mechanic with sparebikes,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 andcommunication andtelemetry 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 asJohan Bruyneel andSean Yates.
Gord Fraser described his role as directeur sportif as follows:[1]
Probably the first thing is that I’m the person who has to come up with a tactical plan at the races that will maximize the potential of the team. I’m also a motivator. I have to have a good eye for talent. I have to have recruitment skills. I have to be good with media and sponsors. And it’s best if I’m not a reckless driver since I spend so much time driving in close proximity to people riding bikes. But really, it all goes back to having the right plan in place, and coming up with a good set of options, then making sure those scenarios are communicated to the riders so they can execute that strategy during the race.
Several directeurs sportifs are also associated with famous riders whom they have nurtured.Patrick Lefevere withJohan Museeuw andTom Boonen,Cyrille Guimard's relationship withLucien Van Impe,Bernard Hinault, and laterLaurent Fignon as well as a youngGreg LeMond prior to his Tour victories;Jean de Gribaldy withSean Kelly andJoaquim Agostinho; and Bruyneel withLance Armstrong are examples. Others include Guillaume “Lomme” Driessens who was a Directeur forEddy Merckx andRoger Legeay who directed LeMond during his win in the1990 Tour de France.
