"It was up to me to constantly analyse and make decisions" - Being road captain prepared Luke Rowe perfectly for role of DS
Cycling
Luke Rowe had a long and successful career as a professional cyclist, spanning over 13 seasons with Team Sky, later INEOS Grenadiers. When his career came to a wrap last year, the Welshman immediately knew he wanted to share his experience with riders as a sports director. About his career, role, and transition into a team car is his book Road Captain.
"Originally, when I was approached about doing a book, the first thing that came to mind was an autobiography. But I wasn't keen on that - it didn't sit right with me. A book like that is for the superstars of the sport," he told Cycling Weekly.
Rowe may not have had an outstanding career when it comes to individual results, but even then he may have been one of the most important links in Sky's many Tour de France victories. That's why, rather than focusing on his own results, Rowe puts emphasis on the way he contributed to the team's successful era.
Albeit Luke Rowe did not finish the 2019 Tour de France after DQ in stage 17, he was again crucial for Egan Bernal's victory
"While I achieved a decent career, I didn't feel it was my place to do a standard autobiography. So, we thought about a different approach and settled on a book about road captaincy, my take on the intricacies of the pro peloton, the highs and lows along the way - it's been a hell of a ride."
What is the essence of being road captain? "It's not just about giving orders on the road - it's a mix of leadership, strategy and support, both on and off the bike. The book is designed to give a real insight into what a road captain does, day to day."
Unlike his leaders who had to look mostly after themselves, Rowe served as the extended hand of his sports directors. "Riders often focus on the moment - the next 30 seconds, a minute, or two minutes ahead. My job was to zoom out and see the bigger picture. What's going to happen in the race in an hour, two hours, or even the next day? How will this play into the Tour de France in three weeks' time?"
In a sense, it was the perfect training for his future role: "It was up to me to constantly analyse and make decisions based on the long game."
Rowe has originally planned to stick around with good friend Geraint Thomas until the end of 2025, but the Brit's injury last year made him reconsider his plans. Suddenly, the long-time road captain of INEOS Grenadiers jumped into a team car of... Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale!
"It’s a big shift - not just changing jobs but changing teams," he says about the new role. "The obvious move would have been to stay with Ineos, but I wanted a challenge. I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and see a different side of the sport. I’m still learning, still figuring out what life is like on the other side of the fence."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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