Cycling teams are truly teams , where every athlete works together to achieve the goal. The role of the domestiques is just as important as that of the captain, whether climber or sprinter. Yet, those who watch this sport from the outside don't understand how important it is to work together to win.
We asked a legend of Italian cycling to give us an inside look at the roles, the mechanisms that operate within the teams, and some interesting facts. We'll let Alessandro Petacchi take the floor.
Those who don't practice it at a high level don't understand that cycling is a true team sport. Why do you think this is?
Alessandro Petacchi: "Anyone who doesn't ride at a high level can't experience this team spirit. Even amateur cyclists normally compete in short, one-day races, but competing in a Grand Tour like the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France, or the Vuelta a España is a very different experience.
Within a professional cycling team, there are many aspects that are difficult to explain, as anything can happen during a journey that can last up to three weeks. For example, there are tactics, movements that are also based on anticipation of what the other teams might do.
So it's normal that those who haven't been professional and haven't been able to take part in major races don't have the feeling that cycling is a team sport and have never experienced the thrill of a result that is achieved thanks to the work of the entire team."
What are the roles in a cycling team?
Alessandro Petacchi: "There are many roles in cycling today. From the organizational standpoint of a large team, everyone contributes, from the office staff to the warehouse staff . This is where the technical clothing, bicycles, etc. are managed, depending on the races the team will be competing in.
Then there are the technical roles. A very important one is the avant-cours , who leads the peloton by about an hour to check the route. This is done especially in major stage races, or in winter races (especially in countries with more hostile climates, where knowing the route allows you to avoid wasting time during the race).
Also crucial are the roles of the Sports Director , who must be able to read and prepare the race, and that of the athletic trainers. The latter must be able to develop a seasonal program, which is often interrupted by falls, accidents, injuries, etc.
As for runners, some athletes are better suited to doing the "dirty work," working from afar. They're often recruited into teams precisely because they have the right characteristics.
For example, a climber aiming to win a Grand Tour also needs other riders (the domestiques) who know how to climb at a sustained pace and stay close to him. Races today are difficult because athletes have very similar physical preparation and use advanced technology. Ultimately, individual fitness is what matters most.
Regarding roles in the sprints , however, organizing a train is not easy. Each rider plays a very important role. Getting your sprinter into the best position at the end of the race is difficult. You're racing at over 60 km/h and the train must emerge in the final minutes, when a mistake of even 15 meters risks jeopardizing the victory.
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How do athletes communicate with each other during a race?
Alessandro Petacchi: "In almost all races, radios are used, so communication is very simple. In races like the World Championships or the Olympics, however, radios are not allowed, so you have to plan your race tactics first.
These races are tactically a little simpler because they're run on a circuit. You still have to be very careful and plan your race. Runners must try to communicate with small gestures or by exchanging words . Communication depends a lot on the connection between teammates: when you compete for the national team, you run alongside athletes from other teams, but you can always find a way to communicate effectively."
How important is the role of the Sporting Director during races, who follows the team from inside the flagship car?
Alessandro Petacchi : “The sporting director has an important role and must be charismatic .
His role is to plan the races, and then remain very focused during the competition, giving the athletes as much information as possible via radio, from inside the team car.
In my opinion, communicating a lot of information is increasingly important : especially in recent years, people have been running very fast thanks to technology, wheels, technical clothing, etc. Especially if the roads are not very good, it is important for the runner to know in advance if they will encounter dangers.
The Sports Director within the team car can also seek the cooperation of the Sports Directors of other teams during a race, trying to develop a common strategy, especially in Grand Tours. For example, if one team is interested in securing the overall leader and another team wants to win a medium-mountain stage, perhaps a collaboration can be found.
In one-day races this cannot happen and the DS's role must be to provide maximum information to his riders, who are fighting for victory or for a placing.
Finally, the sporting director must always be very present , also to intervene as quickly as possible in the event of mechanical problems at the rear of the group."
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There's an iconic image: Mario Cipollini crossing the finish line at the 2002 World Championships , after a great effort from you and the entire team. How hard is it in those moments to let the captain take over, for a competitive athlete accustomed to winning?
Alessandro Petacchi: “Yes, that's an image that will remain in the history of Italian cycling, because it's not easy to win a world championship.
In 2002, Mario Cipollini was on a roll, winning Milan-San Remo and Ghent-Wevelgem . I was already an established cyclist, but I would have to wait another year to beat Mario in a major race. So the fact that the entire team would support Cipollini had already been planned in January. As a professional, I agreed to do my duty and do my best for the national team.
It's clear that in those moments, when you know you can do well too, it's not easy. For a rider with my characteristics, on a course like that, giving up the sprint because you have to train for another sprinter isn't easy. Especially because a World Championship with a course so suited to my characteristics was difficult to find.
I got my chance in 2005, with another World Championship that was quite suitable for me. The week before, I had finished the Vuelta, winning five stages, including the final one. But I got sick right around that time, so I wasn't in great shape for the World Championships.
In 2022, the sprint at Zolder would have been perfect for me too, but despite having won a lot that year, I still hadn't given any guarantees over the long distances. The entire Italian team did a great job training to then allow Cipollini to sprint, which he did brilliantly, beating McEwen and Zabel.
They were two great champions, who were within my reach that year, and I could have competed. If that national team had worked for me, perhaps I could have won my World Cup too, but that year the schedule was already set, and it wasn't possible to change it."
