Johan Bruyneel from Belgium is a former professional cyclist and a directeur sportif for UCI ProTeam Astana.

He has produced eight straight Tour de France victories in a row making him a legend in cycling and sporting circles.  He is famous for convincing Lance Armstrong that he could win more than just stages in The Tour de France.

Though Johan may not have captured the Tour de France title as a professional cyclist, his 10 year riding career was highlighted by two Tour de France stage wins (1993 & 1995), as well as a day in the Tour’s coveted yellow jersey in 1995. That same year, he also placed 3rd overall in another Grand Tour, the Vuelta a Espana. Johan’s ability to observe, prepare and tactically implement strategies, coupled with his heart and determination, led him to be a respected bike rider in the pro-peloton, but more importantly paved the way for his future career as sports director.

After connecting on the roads of Europe with the young Texan Lance Armstrong, Johan was offered the Sports Director position of Lance’s American team in 1998. It was then that the 34 year-old, newly retired, first year Director of the United States Postal Service Pro Cycling Team (2005-2007 named Discovery Channel) instilled his master plan. Johan convinced the cancer survivor that he could win more than stages at the Tour de France; he could become the champion!

Lance Armstrong

Since then, Lance and Johan have become professionally inseparable. With his record-setting seventh title, Lance is regarded as the greatest cyclist in history. But Lance would be the first to tell you cycling is a team sport, and that without Johan he would never have won a single tour.

Johan made Lance something he had never been, a prepared and efficient rider. He convinced him to spend winters training in the Alps and Pyrenees. He altered his pedaling cadence. They went into wind tunnels, seeking better positioning to save fractions of seconds. They experimented with new bike technologies. Together they redefined the approach to cycling.

Their differences proved to be the perfect complement to each other: Johan’s tactical intelligence and Lance’s extraordinary will; Johan’s gift for preparation and Lance’s physical capacity to execute any plan. For all of their differences in personality, they had an effortless understanding. What they shared was a tireless work ethic, mutually inexhaustible ambition, and a vision. Together they've created cycling lore.

Though Lance will always be Johan’s most popular success story, his ability to create champions did not stop with the seven-time Tour winner. After a brief rebuilding year in 2006, Johan took his latest phenom, Spaniard Alberto Contador and guided him to his first Tour de France title; Johan’s eighth. Johan’s Discovery Channel Team dominated the 2007 Tour, with 2 stage wins, 1st and 3rd place (Levi Leipheimer) overall finishes, as well as the Best Young Rider (Alberto Contador) and Team classifications. Johan’s mastermind winning formula worked yet again!

With success came the opportunity to take on new challenges. In 2008, Johan embarked on a new journey as General Manager of the Astana Cycling Team. Though Johan may no longer be directing from the driver’s seat, his leadership and philosophy are strongly rooted with his new team. Like the USPS and Discovery Channel Teams, Team Astana has reaped the benefits of Johan’s wisdom and produced a winning season, highlighted by Alberto Contador’s 2008 Giro d’Italia victory.

Johan’s teams have won an unprecedented 11 Grand Tours (8 Tours de France, 2 Giros d’Italia, 1 Vuelta a Espana), dominated the major US races, and stood on the top step throughout Europe and Asia. He will always be remembered for not only what he has achieved, but how – with hard work, class and professionalism. He has created a dynasty and produced cycling legends, leaving enthusiasts to only believe that Johan Bruyneel is in fact a legend himself.

Johan Bruyneel's book, We Might As Well Win, was published in 2008.