Sport Directors’ Perceptions of Successful ‘Road Captains’ in Men’s Professional Cycling
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.28985/1526.jsc.06%20Keywords:
Cycling Leadership, Athlete Leadership, Team Dynamics, Team Roles, Sport PsychologyAbstract
This qualitative study explores professional team sport directors’ perceptions of the attributes required for successful Road Captains (RCs) in men’s elite road cycling representing a specific organizational context. Six sport directors from one UCI-ranked men’s professional cycling team participated in semi-structured interviews. Five of the participants had previously competed as professional cyclists, accumulating 57 years of racing experience across 19 elite cycling teams spanning UCI Continental, ProTeam, and World Tour levels. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis, adopting a combined inductive–deductive approach within an interpretivist framework. The analysis yielded four primary themes and one overarching meta-theme. Personal characteristics included self-confidence, composure, and a strong work ethic. Race smartness comprised thorough preparation and tactical knowledge, enabling RCs to make rapid, high-quality decisions under pressure. Team competence encompassed effective communication, care and support, and bonding behaviors. Leadership behavior involved role-modelling, decisive action, and tailored motivational strategies. The meta-theme, “the hub of the team,” described the RC as the communication and operational link between sport directors in the team car and riders in the peloton. Participants emphasized that successful RCs combine tactical intelligence with interpersonal influence and in many ways, act as cultural architects who translate management strategy into coordinated team action and develop and maintain the interaction in the team. Findings are aligned and discussed with transformational and the social identity approach to leadership. The results provide factors to consider when selecting RCs and offer targets for development programs. Integrating principles from athlete- and coach-leadership training could help cultivate the identified competencies, improving intrateam communication, cohesion, and performance in the elite cycling context.
Downloads
References
Alharahsheh, H.H., & Pius, A. (2020). A review of key paradigms: Positivism VS interpretivism. Global Academic Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2(3), 39-43. DOI: 10.36348/gajhss.2020.v02i03.001
Arthur, C.A., Bastardoz, N., & Eklund, R. (2017). Transformational leadership in sport: Current status and future directions. Current opinion in Psychology, 16, 78-83. DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.04.001
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. DOI: 10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2019). Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(4), 589-597. DOI: 10.1080/2159676X.2019.1628806
Braun, V., Clarke, V. & Weate, P. (2016). Using thematic analysis in sport and exercise research. In B. Smith and A.C. Sparkes (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise (pp. 191-205). Routledge.
Bass, B.M., & Riggio, R.E. (2006). Transformational Leadership. Psychology Press
Brgoch, S.M., Lower-Hoppe, L.M., Newman, T.J., & Hutton, T.A. (2020). Exploring Team Captain Roles Associated with Athlete Leadership Classifications: Perspectives from Collegiate Coaches. Journal of Sport Behavior, 43(1). 28-49.
Cotterill, S.T. (2017). Developing leadership skills in sport: A case study of elite cricketers. Developing leadership skills in sport: A case study of elite cricketer, 1, 16–25. DOI: 10.1123/CSSEP.2016-0004
Cotterill, S.T., & Cheetham, R. (2017). The experience of captaincy in professional sport: The case of elite professional rugby. European Journal of Sport Science, 17(2), 215-221. DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2016.1245788
Cotterill, S.T., Loughead, T.M., & Fransen, K. (2022). Athlete leadership development within teams: Current understanding and future directions. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1-10. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.820745
Danielsen, L.D., Giske, R., Peters, D.M. & Høigaard, R. (2019). Athletes as ‘Cultural Architects’: A qualitative analysis of elite coaches` perceptions of highly influential soccer players. The Sport Psychologist, 33(4), 313-322. DOI: 10.1123/tsp.2018-0166
De Cuyper, B., Boen, F., Van Beirendonck, C., Vanbeselaere, N., & Fransen, K. (2016). When do elite cyclists go the extra mile? Team identification mediates the relationship between perceived leadership qualities of the captain and social laboring. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 47(4), 355-372.
Dupuis, M., Bloom, G.A., & Loughead, T.M. (2006). Team captains' perceptions of athlete leadership. Journal of Sport Behavior, 29(1), 60-78.
Erikstad, M.K., Høigaard, R., Côté, J., & Haugen, T. (2024). Youth sport coaches' perceptions of participating in the transformational coaching workshop -A qualitative evaluation. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 19(6), 2261-2271. DOI: 10.1177/17479541241260984
Erikstad, M.K., Høigaard, R., Côté, J., Turnnidge, J., & Haugen, T. (2021). An examination of the relationship between coaches’ transformational leadership and athletes’ personal and group characteristics in elite youth soccer. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1-8. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.707669
Eys, M.A., Loughead, T.M., & Hardy, J. (2007). Athlete leadership dispersion and satisfaction in interactive sport teams. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 8(3), 281-296. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2006.04.005
Filho, E. (2020). Shared zones of optimal functioning: A framework to capture peak performance, momentum, psycho-bio-social synchrony, and leader-follower dynamics in teams. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 14(4), 330–358. DOI: 10.1123/jcsp.2019-0054
Filho, E., Piasecki, P. & Groen. M. (2023): Performance recovery and optimization for teams (PRO-TEAMS): A psychological skills training program to enhance team functioning, Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 14(4), 212–226. DOI: 10.1080/21520704.2023.2186993
Forsyth, D. R. (2019). Group dynamics. Cengage.
Fransen, K., Vanbeselaere, N., Exadaktylos, V., Vande Broek, G., De Cuyper, B., Berckmans, D., Ceux, T., De Backer, M. & Boen, F. (2012). "Yes, we can!": Perceptions of collective efficacy sources in volleyball. Journal of Sports Sciences, 30(7), 641-649. DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2011.653579
Fransen, K., Vanbeselaere, N., De Cuyper, B., Vande Broek, G., & Boen, F. (2014). The myth of the team captain as principal leader: Extending the athlete leadership classification within sport teams. Journal of Sports Sciences, 32(14), 1389-1397.
Gallo, G., Mateo‐March, M., Gotti, D., Faelli, E., Ruggeri, P., Codella, R., & Filipas, L. (2022). How do world class top 5 Giro d'Italia finishers train? A qualitative multiple case study. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 32(12), 1738-1746 DOI: 10.1111/sms.14201.
Giske, R., Gjerde, J., Høigaard, R., & Johansen, B.T. (2022). Shared mental models: national representative coaches' thinking on importance, characteristics, and development. Journal of Expertise/March, 5(1), 2573-2773.
Grandzol, C., Perlis, S., & Draina, L. (2010). Leadership development of team captains in collegiate varsity athletics. Journal of College Student Development, 51(4), 403-418.
Haslam, S.A., Steffens, N.K., Peters, K., Boyce, R.A., Mallett, C.J., & Fransen, K. (2017). A social identity approach to leadership development: The 5R program. Journal of Personnel Psychology, 16,113-124. DOI: 10.1027/1866-5888/a000176
Haslam, S.A., Reutas, J., Bentley, S.V., McMillan, B., Lindfield, M., Luong, M., Peters, K., & Steffens, N.K. (2023). Developing engaged and ‘teamful’leaders: A randomized controlled trial of the 5R identity leadership program. PLoS One, 18(5), 1-21 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286263
Høigaard, R., (2021). Gruppedynamikk og ledelse i idrett [Group dynamics and leadership in sport]. Cappelen Damm Akademisk.
Høigaard, R., Hofseth, E. & Schei, G. (2026). Teampsykologi i eliteidrett: teamoptimalisering prestasjon og resiliens. In S. A. Sæther & R. Høigaard (Eds.), Toppidrett i Skandinavia: En samfunnsvitenskapelig forskningsantologi om utviklings- og prestasjonsmiljø (p. 363–386). Cappelen Damm Akademisk. DOI: 10.23865/cdf.282.ch16
Høigaard, R., Boen, F., De Cuyper, B., & Peters, D.M. (2013). Team identification reduces social loafing and promotes social laboring in cycling. International Journal of Applied Sports Sciences, 25(1), 33-40.
Kao, S.F., & Tsai, C.Y. (2016). Transformational leadership and athlete satisfaction: The mediating role of coaching competency. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 28(4), 469-482. DOI: 10.1080/10413200.2016.1187685
Karayel, E., Adilogullari, I., & Senel, E. (2024). The role of transformational leadership in the associations between coach-athlete relationship and team resilience: A study on elite football players. BMC Psychology, 12(1), 514. DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-02043-7
Kozub, S.A., & Pease, D.G. (2001). Coach and player leadership in high school basketball. Journal of Sport Pedagogy, 7, 1-15.
Lincoln, Y.S., & Guba, E.G. (1985). Establishing trustworthiness. Naturalistic inquiry. Sage Publication
Loughead, T.M., & Hardy, J. (2005). An examination of coach and peer leader behaviors in sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 6(3), 303-312. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2004.02.001
Loughead, T.M., Hardy, J., & Eys, M.A. (2006). The nature of athlete leadership. Journal of Sport Behavior, 29(2), 142-158.
Mach, M., Ferreira, A.I., & Abrantes, A.C. (2022). Transformational leadership and team performance in sports teams: A conditional indirect model. Applied Psychology, 71(2), 662-694. DOI: 10.1111/apps.12342
Newman, T.J., Lower, L.M., & Brgoch, S.M. (2019). Developing sport team captains as formal leaders. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 10(3), 137-150. DOI: 10.1080/21520704.2019.1604590
Northouse, P. G. (2025). Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications.
O’Grady, M.W., Worn, R., Owens, J.O., O’Brien, B.J., & Talpey, S.W. (2023). Race craft: A qualitative exploration of the development, implementation and reflection of tactical decision making in road cycling. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 18(6), 2160-2170. DOI: 10.1177/17479541221118423
OpenAI. (2026). AI-generated image created with ChatGPT (DALL·E). https://chat.openai.com/
Phillips, K.E., & Hopkins, W.G. (2020). Determinants of cycling performance: a review of the dimensions and features regulating performance in elite cycling competitions. Sports Medicine - Open, 6(23), 1-18. DOI: 10.1186/s40798-020-00252-z
Rebeggiani, L. (2016). The Organizational Structure of Professional Road Cycling. In D. Van Reeth & D.J. Larson (Eds.) The Economics of Professional Road Cycling (pp. 33-54). Springer.
Patton M.Q. (2002) Qualitative research and evaluation methods. Thousand Oaks, Sage Publications.
PCS (2026). Procyclingstats. Most racedays per season. Download 1 February 2026. https://www.procyclingstats.com/statistics/start/most-racedays-per-season
Sanders, D., van Erp, T., & de Koning, J.J. (2019). Intensity and load characteristics of professional road cycling: differences between men’s and women’s races. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 14(3), 296-302. DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2018-0190
Schei, G.S., Høigaard, R., Erikstad, M.K., Ivarsson, A., & Haugen, T. (2023). Identity leadership and cohesion in elite sport: The mediating role of intra-team communication. Heliyon, 9(7). 1-8 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17853
Smith, B. (2018). Generalizability in qualitative research: Misunderstandings, opportunities and recommendations for the sport and exercise sciences. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 10(1), 137-149. DOI: 10.1080/2159676X.2017.1393221
Smith, M.J., Arthur, C.A., Hardy, J., Callow, N., & Williams, D. (2013). Transformational leadership and task cohesion in sport: The mediating role of intrateam communication. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14(2), 249-257. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.10.002
Sparkes, A.C. & Smith, B., (2014). Qualitative research methods in sport, exercise and health: from process to product. Routledge.
Steffens, N.K., Haslam, S.A., Reicher, S.D., Platow, M.J., Fransen, K., Yang, J., ... & Boen, F. (2014). Leadership as social identity management: Introducing the Identity Leadership Inventory (ILI) to assess and validate a four-dimensional model. The Leadership Quarterly, 25(5), 1001-1024. DOI: 10.1016/j.leaqua.2014.05.002
Spindler, D.J., Allen, M.S., Vella, S.A., & Swann, C. (2018). The psychology of elite cycling: a systematic review. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36(17), 1943-1954. DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2018.1426978
Silverman D. (2024). Interpreting Qualitative Data. Sage Publications.
Turnnidge, J., & Côté, J. (2019). Observing coaches’ leadership behaviours: The development of the coach leadership assessment system (CLAS). Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 23(3), 214-226. DOI: 10.1080/1091367X.2019.1602835
Van Reeth, D., & Larson, D.J. (Eds.). (2022). The economics of professional road cycling. Springer.
Veltkamp, M. (2016). The hidden motor. The psychology of cycling. Dark River.
Voelker, D.K., Gould, D., & Crawford, M.J. (2011). Understanding the experience of high school sport captains. The Sport Psychologist, 25(1), 47-66. DOI: 10.1123/tsp.25.1.47
Wegelius, C. (2014). Domestique. Ebury Press.
Witts, J. (2016). The Science of the Tour de France: Training secrets of the world’s best cyclists. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Science and Cycling
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors contributing to Journal of Science and Cycling agree to publish their articles under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND license, allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, and to remix, transform, and build upon the material, for any purpose, even commercially, under the condition that appropriate credit is given, that a link to the license is provided, and that you indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
Authors retain copyright of their work, with first publication rights granted to Cycling Research Center.
