Cycling domestique

From open-encyclopedia.com - the free encyclopedia.

In the sport of road cycling, a domestique is a cyclist who works solely for the benefit of his or her team and leader. The French 'domestique' literally translates as "servant." Unique among athletes, the domestique's own performance (finish time) is considered unimportant as long as he/she can help his/her leader achieve a better position in the race. They do not share the fame of the great cycling leaders such as Lance Armstrong, but are vital to their efforts.

Some important tasks carried out by the domestiques include retrieving water and nutrition from team cars and bringing it back up to the rest of the team and shielding teammates from aggressive opponents. They are also vital in helping teammates cope with mechanical disasters - should the leader get a flat tire, the domestique will shield them as they pull over, wait with them until they have replaced the wheel, then cycle in front of them to create an aerodynamic advantage allowing them to quickly reclaim their position. A domestique may also be called upon to sacrifice his or her bicycle if the leader crashes.

There is a kind of hierarchy among domestiques; the more accomplished riders among them, often called "lieutenants," are called upon during especially critical times in a race. Generally, the lieutenant(s) will stay with the team leader as long as possible during especially demanding periods in a race. For example, Armstrong typically uses two or three teammates to set a vicious pace during key mountain stages before a late and often decisive attack.