What Team Directors Actually Say on Race Radio (And Why It Matters)

If you’ve ever watched a mountain stage and wondered what’s happening in those earpieces that makes riders suddenly accelerate or drop back, you’re not alone. Race radio communication is the invisible nervous system of professional cycling, and what directors actually say is far more complex than “attack now.”

The Technology Behind the Voice

Teams use encrypted radio systems with multiple channels. The main channel connects the sports director in the team car to all eight riders simultaneously. Secondary channels allow private communication with specific riders – useful when discussing tactics that shouldn’t be broadcast to teammates.

Team cars carry sophisticated setups with multiple screens showing live television, GPS tracking of the peloton, power data from riders’ computers, and weather information. Directors process this information constantly and relay the relevant pieces to riders.

The Information Categories

Race radio communication falls into several categories, each with distinct purposes:

Gap Information

“Thirty seconds to the break. Holding steady.” This is the most common type of communication. Directors constantly relay time gaps between groups – the breakaway, the peloton, chasing groups, and dropped riders. This information shapes tactical decisions at every moment.

Modern teams supplement this with power data: “The break is averaging 350 watts. Sustainable.” This helps leaders decide whether to chase personally or delegate to teammates.

Road Information

“Technical descent in 3 kilometers. Guardrails on the left, gravel on exit of hairpin four.” Directors drive the course beforehand and note hazards. This information is especially valuable on unfamiliar roads or when visibility is limited.

Weather updates are constant during unpredictable conditions: “Rain starting at kilometer 85. Road surface will be slick.”

Tactical Commands

This is where it gets interesting. Directors must balance instruction with rider autonomy. Too much direction stifles racing instinct; too little leaves riders exposed.

“Jonas, stay on Tadej’s wheel. Don’t respond to accelerations yet.” This type of direct positioning instruction is common in the final kilometers of crucial stages.

“Wout, we need you on the front to control this. 400 watts for the next 10 kilometers.” Domestiques receive specific workload assignments that serve team strategy.

Motivational Communication

Grand Tour directors become part psychologist. “Egan, you’re climbing beautifully. Stay relaxed, control your breathing.” Sometimes the most valuable communication is reassurance rather than information.

Conversely, some directors are famous for harsh delivery: “Stop sitting up! You’re losing 10 seconds every kilometer!” Different riders respond to different approaches.

Famous Radio Moments

Some race radio exchanges have become legendary through post-race interviews or leaked audio:

Marc Madiot, FDJ’s famously passionate director, is known for screaming encouragement that can be heard even without a radio. His instructions are less tactical than emotional, and it works for his riders.

Team Sky (now INEOS) revolutionized radio communication by making it exceptionally data-driven. Their directors would relay specific power targets calibrated to deplete rivals while preserving their leader. “Stay at 6.2 watts per kilo. Don’t exceed this.”

Patrick Lefevere at Soudal-Quick Step has been caught on camera delivering blunt tactical assessments that most directors would keep private. His directness is part of the team’s aggressive racing culture.

The Anti-Radio Movement

There’s ongoing debate about whether race radios enhance or diminish racing excitement. Critics argue that radios make racing too controlled, eliminating the attacking gambits that once defined cycling.

Certain races ban radios – most notably Italian races like the Strade Bianche and some stages of the Giro. Riders must read races themselves, leading to more unpredictable and arguably more exciting competition.

Pro riders are split. Some love the guidance; others feel micromanaged. Younger riders, accustomed to data-driven approaches, generally accept radios more readily than veterans who remember racing without them.

What Directors DON’T Say

Radio discipline is important. Directors avoid discussing rivals’ weaknesses within earshot of their own riders – you never know what might be overheard or repeated. They rarely admit when tactics are failing, instead reframing setbacks as opportunities.

Contract discussions, internal team politics, and personal matters never happen on race radio. The focus stays on racing.

Learning to Listen

Understanding race radio gives fans deeper appreciation for cycling’s tactical complexity. Every attack, every acceleration, every moment of apparent calm has been shaped by decisions made through those earpieces. The sport’s invisible communication layer is where races are often truly won and lost.