THE ROAD TO BECOMING A DS

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work behind the scenes at some of the world’s biggest bike races, what happens back there in the crazy, chaotic realm of the race convoy, and what the world of a Directeur Sportif is like?

Obviously, I’ve worked up close with DS’s throughout my career, but I’ve never been behind the wheel, and when I was asked to support a couple of riders at this year’s Aussie Road Nats, I realised I didn’t really know that much about what goes into the job of being a Directeur Sportif.

So, before I made my big debut as a DS – in the car supporting Brendan Johnston and Simon Clarke – I needed to learn the ropes, quickly. Fortunately, I’ve got a bunch of Directors at various stages of their careers that I could call on to help me get up to speed before the big day. For this episode, I chatted with seasoned DS’s Brett Lancaster, Gregory Rast, Tom Southam and Zak Dempster, as well as newly minted DS, Sam Bewley.

As an ex-pro, it was also a chance for me to ask some of the questions about being a DS that really bothered me during my career – like hey mate, don’t you remember what it’s like to be out here riding?! But also, it gave me a glimpse into how much work goes on behind the scenes, from the race prep, team communication, and logistics, to managing personalities, rosters and team expectations, and I have to say (spoiler warning), it was a lot more than I expected.

I asked all the big questions – what kind of rider makes the best DS? Do you even have to have been a rider at all to become a DS? And crucially, do former pros turned DS’s remember how hard it is out there?! Some of the answers surprised me, but it was fascinating to learn from experience, get behind the wheel myself and road-test my new skills.

I hope you enjoy listening and learning about one of the behind-the-scenes aspects of pro cycling.