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What is a directeur sportif in cycling?
A directeur sportif, or DS, is the team manager who plans race tactics and directs riders during a race, usually from the team car. The term is French for "sports director".
Before a race, the DS studies the route, the weather and the rivals, and holds a team meeting to set the plan: who is the leader, who should be in the breakaway, where the race is likely to be decided. During the race, the DS follows in the team car, gives instructions over the race radio, and reacts to crashes, punctures and attacks.
A large team has several directeurs sportifs, each responsible for different races, rider groups or parts of the calendar. Above them, a general manager or team principal is responsible for budget, sponsors and the overall structure.
Many directeurs sportifs are former professional riders, and their reading of a race can make a real difference. Poor tactics can cost a leader a race; a well-timed decision can win one.
Staff contracts are rarely reported, so we do not publish estimates for directeurs sportifs. Rider pages on howtoturnpro.com show the team each rider races for, and team pages show the rider salary budget.