"It was up to me to constantly analyse and make decisions" - Being road captain prepared Luke Rowe perfectly for role of DS

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.

"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."