View source for Directeur sportif

{{Short description|Person directing a cycling team}}
{{About|the management role in a cycling team|the management role in sports clubs, especially association football|sporting director|the role in a broadcasting organisation|sports director}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2009}}
{{Italic title}}
A '''''directeur sportif''''' ({{IPA|fr|diʁɛktœʁ spɔʁtif|lang}}, {{literally|[[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]].

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 [[bicycle|bikes]], [[bicycle wheel|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 [[telecommunication|communication]] 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 (cyclist)|Gord Fraser]] described his role as directeur sportif as follows:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bicycling.com/racing/wheel-and-still-race |title=At the Wheel, and Still in the Race |last1=Sumner |first1=Jason |date=21 February 2012 |website=[[Bicycling (magazine)|Bicycling]] |access-date=28 September 2016}}</ref>

{{Quote|text=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]] 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 (cyclist)|Sean Kelly]] and [[Joaquim Agostinho]]; and Bruyneel with [[Lance Armstrong]] are examples. Others include Guillaume “Lomme” Driessens who was a Directeur for [[Eddy Merckx]] and [[Roger Legeay]] who directed LeMond during his win in the [[1990 Tour de France]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wiktionary|directeur sportif}}
* [http://www.jeandegribaldy.com Complete French site about Jean de Gribaldy]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Directeur Sportif}}
[[Category:Road bicycle racing terminology]]
[[Category:Management occupations]]
[[Category:Directeur sportifs| ]]