Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) Photo ©: AFP

On the road before the Tour Photo ©: AFP

Behind the Blue Curtain

Inside the Discovery Channel bus with Chris Brewer

Chris will be bringing us daily updates from within Discovery Channel HQ, getting the lowdown from team management.

Discovery Channel is the team on everybody's lips at this year's Tour de France. Why?

One name - Lance Armstrong.

This network of riders and staff previously existed as the US Postal Service Pro Cycling Team, helping Lance win his six Tour de France crowns, and in 2005 they're gunning for a seventh title. Follow the progress of the team here on Cyclingnews.com from 'Behind the Blue Curtain'

Index to all entries

July 14, 2005: The team behind the team

Lance Armstrong often says how proud he is of the eight riders who have supported his string of Tour de France victories. But another basic truth is that without a virtual armada of support staff the riders simply couldn't race, let alone win. The Discovery Channel Pro Cycling team is at the top of the list when it comes to the number of staff they bring to France each year. "We're trying to run an efficient ship, but then the Lance Factor changes everything," said team Director of Communications, Dan Osipow.

Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel)
Photo ©: Sirotti

Dan broke the team's support staff down into these numbers:

4 mechanics
4 soigneurs
3 directors
3 team physicians
3 media reps
2 security personnel
1 chef
1 logistics director
1 bus driver
10+ staff working sponsor/VIP logistics

At any point in the race Discovery Channel will have 10-20 additional VIPs to not only manage but make sure they have a very good time, and then when the race gets to Paris the number literally goes into the hundreds. "For Paris alone we start working 12 months in advance to secure enough rooms to handle everyone that comes in," Osipow said. "And no matter what you do to plan, I guarantee you'll have a tonne of changes occurring right before the end - people who can't come, people who want to come, and you've got to make it all happen."

Armstrong and Hincapie
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini

It's arguable that amongst all the folks behind the scenes, Director of Logistics Louise Donald is the busiest. "I think she's the busiest person on Tour!" said Osipow. "She handles all the team logistics, credentials for the entire staff, the critical vehicle stickers, and oversees all the guests we have as well." A huge job indeed but one she carries off very well, and somehow finds the time to be married to team mechanic Geoff Brown.

So now you know what it takes to keep Discovery Channel on the road and hopefully atop the podium - and they can get you a nice room with a view, too.

Thanks for checking in,

Cheers,
Chris

2005 entries - the Tour de France

• July 28 - Lance's Tour curtain call
• July 23 - Time Trial support
• July 19 - How to become a pro
• July 18 - All's well on rest day
• July 16 - The Disco team car
• July 15 - Iconography
• July 14 - The team behind the team
• July 13 - A little bit of Discovery tech
• July 11 - Staying on guard
• July 9-10 - Life at the start & Entering the Holy of Holies
• July 7 - Coloured Lids
• July 6 - Recovering after the TTT
• July 5 - Stage 4 - Mystery Oakleys?
• July 4 - Stage 3 and looking ahead to the TTT
• July 3 - Discovery Channel Satisfied with Stage 1 Result

Previous Cyclingnews articles on the Discovery Channel team

Interviews

• Lance Armstrong: Ready for Number 7
• Lance Armstrong: Suddenly seven
• Lance Armstrong interview: On top of his game, having fun
• Johan Bruyneel: It's not a formality, really
• Lance Armstrong: Three weeks to go before the Tour de France

Tech

• Tour de France tech - Lance's TTX