The Millenial Sportif: Riis, Vaughters, Stapleton Redefine the Director Sportif Ideal

It's the new illusion. While past team directors have frantically pushed their riders on with everything from megaphones (Saiz) to blatent intimidation (Cyrile Guimard), today's DS is decidedly more composed. Increasingly, the DS persona is one of stately control rather than impassioned fury. Three of today's most successful DS's, namely CSC-Saxo's Bjarne Riis, Columbia's Bob Stapleton, and Garmin-Chipotle's Jonathan Vaughters, exhibit similiar public personas. Each is calm, understated and reclusive while in front of the public, and each seems well versed in dealing with a sometimes hostile press corps and rabid fan base.

The way the DS and rider interact has changed in the last several years, as the DS today is considered more of a colleague than a coach. Many directors are only a few years from having been a pro racer themselves, so they are able to go on training rides with their team, and build trust and rapport out on the road. When things turn serious during a race, many of the new age directors can draw on past training rides with their riders for motivation, and relate on a personal level with each rider.

Increasingly, it is looking as though this new DS is the way of the future. Patrick Lefevre, thought of as an old schooler, nevertheless has adapted to today's style, and is decidedly more dialed down than he was as recently as 1995. And this method works. Today's most successful directors are those most able to relate to their riders on a collegial level. No longer is the director a far-off, brooding presence, but instead he is one that is omnipresent, always attentive, and forever looking out for the well-being of his rider. Like in many aspects of today's society, TLC takes precidence over harsh words and impulsive decision making.

Riis, Stapleton and Vaughters will lead tomorrow's young cyclists into the next decade, along with a few others. Erik Breukink of the Rabobank team, Johan Bruyneel of Astana and even BMC's John Lelangue will help redefine the role of the director sportif, lending a supportive instead of oppressive hand to their young charges. Years from now, the yelling maniacs of yesterday will be all but forgotton, replaced instead by stoic chess masters plotting their every move behind the scenes.