A soigneur is a key team support staffer in pro cycling — they handle massages, race-day food prep (musettes), drink bottles, race-day logistics, and rider recovery. The word is French for “one who cares for.” Top soigneurs work 14-hour days during Grand Tours. Below, we cover the full role and history. Many outsiders believe that … Read more
Jumbo-Visma managed to win all three Grand Tours in the same year, with three different riders claiming victory in the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España. Not even the dominant Team Sky achieved such a feat back in their heyday.
So, what exactly drives their consistent success?
The directeur sportif (sports director) of each team essentially runs the show on the sporting side of things. Analogous to the head coach in football, the directeur sportif provides insight into the current situation of the race, following the team in a car.
They also provide the team with the proper tactics they should use in each case, often updating these as such during a stage, reflecting the current situation of the race.
Each Tour de France team has 8 riders, plus 4–6 staff (sport directors, mechanics, soigneurs, doctors). Of the 22 teams in the 2025 Tour, 18 are UCI WorldTour teams (automatic invitations) and 4 are wildcards (ProTeams selected by ASO). Teams aim to win the GC, stages, KOM, points jersey, or team classification — strategy varies … Read more