A directeur sportif ( French: [diʁɛktœʁ spɔʁtif] , lit. ' sporting director ' ) is a person directing a cycling team during a road 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 by radio .
7-557: 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 and telemetry equipment. The directeur sportif can have split times, find where riders from other teams are in
14-408: A lot of paperwork or working closely with others." They classify it as a job that "usually requires a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed. Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees." They indicate an annual wage in
21-641: The neighborhood of $ 25,000, but can earn up to a little more than $ 40,000. "In 2002, employment for bicycle repairers in New York was 360." The skills involved in maintaining racing bicycles and other specialized bicycles of course go beyond the basics outlined in New York's "occupational brief." In Canada there are a variety of bicycle mechanic training programs, including the BAM ( Bicycle Assembly & Maintenance ) program in Toronto which has been accredited by
28-415: 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: Probably the first thing is that I’m the person who has to come up with a tactical plan at
35-473: 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
42-536: 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 with Johan Museeuw and Tom Boonen , Cyrille Guimard 's relationship with Lucien Van Impe , Bernard Hinault , and later Laurent Fignon as well as a young Greg LeMond 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
49-552: Was a Directeur for Eddy Merckx and Roger Legeay who directed LeMond during his win in the 1990 Tour de France . Bicycle mechanic A bicycle mechanic or bike mechanic is a mechanic who can perform a wide range of repairs on bicycles . The New York State Department of Labor describes bicycle repair as a "realistic" occupation, meaning an occupation that would be enjoyed by somebody who likes "practical, hands-on problems," dealing with "real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery," and one that "does not involve
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