Directeur sportif
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A directeur sportif (French for sporting director, although the original French term is often used in English-language media; plural directeurs sportifs) is a person who is responsible for the operation of a cycling team during a road bicycle racing event. At the highest professional level, a directeur sportif typically follows the team in a team car, and communicates with the riders, support personnel, and race officials via radio.
Called DS for short, the role of a directeur sportif varies from team to team, but typically includes warning riders of obstacles or challenging terrain ahead, updates the team on the situation in the race, and provides mechanical help. The team car usually carries a bicycle mechanic with spare bikes, wheels, and spare parts. It also carries spare water bottles, food, and medical equipment in case of injuries.
In recent years the role of the DS has increased, in keeping with better team cohesion, better tactics, and more importantly better communication and telemetry equipment. The team DS can have access to split times, find out which riders from which team are on which part of the field, and thus dictate team orders to the riders. In turn, this has made teamwork and tactics more important in cycling races.
Outside of the races, a DS can also be involved in the riders' training and racing programme.
Many successful DS have made the transition to managing their own cycling teams, such as Giancarlo Ferretti and Patrick Lefevere. Many of them are former professionals themselves, such as Johan Bruyneel and Sean Yates.
Several directeurs sportifs are also strongly associated with the famous riders whom they have nurtured for years. The relationship between Patrick Lefevere and his former rider Johan Museeuw is well-known, as is Cyrille Guimard's relationship with first Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond, and later Laurent Fignon, "le Vicomte" Jean de Gribaldy with Seán Kelly and Joaquim Agostinho.
