Growing up in cycling-mad Belgium, Johan Bruyneel dreamt of winning the most prestigious cycling race, the Tour de France. Of course, like every other Belgian kid, Johan pictured himself on the podium as a rider, not the champion sports director he later became.
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!
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.
Getting to Know Johan:
Birthday: August 23, 1964
Hometown: Izegem, Belgium
Current Residence: Madrid, Spain
Family: Wife – Eva Maria, Daughter – Victoria
Hero: Father
Education: BA, Marketing
Best Cycling Experience: Winning a stage in the 1993 Tour de France in memory of his father
Scariest Cycling Experience: Crashing and falling off a mountain in the 1996 Tour de France
Interesting Fact: Fluent in 6 languages (Dutch, English, Spanish, French, Italian, German)
Teams
- SEFB 1989
- Lotto 1990-1991
- ONCE 1992-1995
- Rabobank 1997
- ONCE 1998
1988
- Izegem
- Tour de la CEE, Stage 1
1989
- Berlare
- Fièche Nieloise
- Tour de la CEE, Stage 7
- Tour of Switzerland, Stage 2
- Tour of Switzerland, Stage 10
- Wavre
1990
- Herselt
- Tour de la CEE
- Tour de l’Avenir
- Tour du Vaucluse, Stage 3
1991
- Critèrium de Geraardsbergen
- Grand Prix de Frankfurt
- Grand Prix du Midi Libre, Stage 3
- Tour du Pays Basque, Stage 5
1992
- Tour of Spain, Stage 12
- Coppa Placci
- Grand Prix des Nations
- Rund um den Henninger Turm
1993
- Tour de France, Stage 6
- Critèrium de Geraardsbergen
- Semaine Catalane
1994
- Boland Bank Tour, Stage 3
- Tour de la Rioja, Stage 4
1995
- Tour de France, Stage 7
- Critèrium d’Alost
- Grand Prix du Midi Libre, Stage 5
1996
- Critèrium de Peer
- Hofbrau Cup, Stage 3
1997
- Flèche Manuroise
Teams
- U.S. Postal Service 1999-2004
- Discovery Channel 2005-2007
1999
- Tour de France
- Tour de France, Prologue
- Tour de France, Stage 8
- Tour de France, Stage 9
- Tour de France, Stage 19
- Circuit de la Sarthe, Stage 4
- Dauphinè Libèrè, Prologue
- First Union Classic
- Four Days of Dunkirk, Best Young Rider
- Redlands Classic
- Route de Sud, Stage 4
2000
- Tour de France
- Tour de France, Stage 19
- Grand Prix Eddy Merckx
2001
- Tour de France
- Tour de France, Stage 10
- Tour de France, Stage 11
- Tour de France, Stage 18
- Ghent-Wevelgem
2002
- Tour de France
- Tour de France, Stage 11
- Tour de France, Stage 12
- Tour de France, Stage 19
- U.S. National Road Championship
- Vuelta a Murcia
2003
- Tour de France
- Tour de France, Stage 4
- Tour de France, Stage 15
- Tour of Spain
- Tour of Spain, Stage 20
2004
- Tour de France
- Tour de France, Stage 4
- Tour de France, Stage 13
- Tour de France, Stage 15
- Tour de France, Stage 16
- Tour de France, Stage 17
- Tour de France, Stage 19
- Three Days of De Panne
- Tour de Georgia
- Tour de Georgia, Stage 3
- Tour de Georgia, Stage 4
2005
- Tour de France
- Tour de France, Best Young Rider
- Tour de France, Stage 4
- Tour de France, Stage 15
- Tour de France, Stage 17
- Tour de France, Stage 20
- Giro d’Italia
- Giro d’Italia, Stage 11
- Tour of Spain, Stage 6
- Dauphinè Libèrè, Points Classification
- Dauphinè Libèrè, Team Classification
- Dauphinè Libèrè, Prologue
- Dauphinè Libèrè, Stage 7
- Eneco Tour of Benelux, Stage 1
- Eneco Tour of Benelux, Stage 5
- GP Ouest-France
- Tour of Australia, Team Classification
- Tour de Georgia
- Tour de Georgia, Stage 5
- Volta a Catalunya
2006
- Tour de France, Stage 12
- Giro d’Italia, Combination Classification
- Giro d’Italia, Prologue
- Tour of Spain, King of the Mountains
- Tour of Spain, Stage 11
- Tour of Spain, Stage 17
- Tour of Spain, Team Classification
- Belgium National Time Trial Championship
- Japan National Road Championship
- Japan National Time Trial Championship
- U.S. National Road Championship
- United Kingdom National Cyclo-Cross Championship
- Deutschland Tour, Best Young Rider
- Deutschland Tour, Prologue
- Eneco Tour of Benelux, Stage 4
- Tour of Austria
- Sachsen Tour International
- Three Days of De Panne
- Three Days of De Panne, King of the Mountains
- Three Days of De Panne, Stage 1
- Three Days of De Panne, Stage 4
- Tour de Pologne, Stage 1
- Tour de Romandie, Prologue
- Tour of California, Stage 2
- Tour of California, Stage 5
2007
- Tour de France
- Tour de France, Best Young Rider
- Tour de France, Team Classification
- Tour de France, Stage 14
- Tour de France, Stage 19
- Tour of Spain, Stage 14
- U.S. National Road Championship
- Belgian National Road Championship
- Russian National Time Trial Championship
- Paris-Nice
- Paris-Nice, Best Young Rider
- Paris-Nice, Stage 4
- Paris-Nice, Stage 5
- Paris-Nice, Stage 7
- Three Days of De Panne, Stage 4
- Tour de Georgia
- Tour de Georgia, Best Young Rider
- Tour de Georgia, Team Classification
- Tour de Georgia, Stage 3
- Tour de Georgia, Stage 4
- Tour de Georgia, Stage 5
- Tour de l’Ain, Stage 2
- Tour de Suisse, Mountains Classification
- Tour de Suisse, Stage 6
- Tour of Austria
- Tour of Austria, Stage 5
- Tour of Austria, Stage 7
- Tour of Belgium
- Tour of Belgium, Stage 3
- Tour of California
- Tour of California, Prologue
- Tour of California, Stage 5
- Tour of Missouri
- Tour of Missouri, Stage 2
- Tour of Missouri, Stage 3
- Tour of Qinghai Lake, Points Classification
- Tour of Qinghai Lake, Stage 1
- Tour of Qinghai Lake, Stage 3
- Tour of Qinghai Lake, Stage 5
- Tour of Qinghai Lake, Stage 6
- Tour of Qinghai Lake, Stage 8
- Tour of Qinghai Lake, Stage 9
- Volta a Catalunya, Stage 3
- Vuelta a la Comunidad Valenciana, Stage 4
- Vuelta a Mallorca, Metas Volantes
- Vuelta Ciclista a Castilla y Leon
- Vuelta Ciclista a Castilla y Leon, Combination Classification
- Vuelta Ciclista a Castilla y Leon, Spanish Rider Classification
- Vuelta Ciclista a Castilla y Leon, Stage 4
Teams
- Astana 2008-Present
2008
- Vuelta a Espana
- Giro d’Italia
- Tour of California
- Tour of California, Stage 5
- Pais-Vasco
- Pais-Vasco, Stage 1
- Pais-Vasco, Stage 6
- Castilla y Leon
- Castilla y Leon, Stage 1
- Castilla y Leon, Stage 4
- Tour de Romandie
- Tour de Romandie, Stage 1
- Tour de Romandie, Stage 3
- Grand Prix of Istanbul
- Campina Ronde van het Groene Hart
- Vuelta a Murcia, Stage 2
- Tour of Algarve, Stage 7
- Dauphiné Libéré, Prologue
Brazilian Cycling Magazine - VO2 O Midas Do Tour
Het Nieuwsblad - "We Kicken Allebei Op Wat Onmogelijk Lijkt"
Bruyneel's Take - Back in the Lead for Stage 9
Bruyneel's Take - We Are Back
Ask Johan - Vuelta Edition Answers
Sports Byline USA - Interview with Ron Barr
NPR Interview - Only A Game
Bloomberg TV - Night Talk with Mike Schneider
Radio Interview - Johan on KGO San Francisco
Video Highlights - Johan on VERSUS (Tour de France)
Bloomberg TV - Night Talk with Mike Schneider (Click Video Link on Right Side)
Johan's Bicycling.com Tour de France Blog - Tour Wrap-Up
Radio Interview - Johan on KGO San Francisco
SPITS Interview - Erin Geloven is het Geheim (Page 12 & 13)
Video Highlights - Johan on VERSUS (Tour de France)
Johan's Bicycling.com Tour de France Blog - Climbing to Glory
Q & A Video - Johan Visits San Diego Trek Bicycle Superstore
Johan's Bicycling.com Tour de France Blog - Cohesion Key for CSC
Johan's Bicycling.com Tour de France Blog - Alps Take a Toll
Johan's Bicycling.com Tour de France Blog - Gotta Go Like Hell
Johan's Bicycling.com Tour de France Blog - Who Will Win?
San Diego Union Tribune - Even Non-Tour Winners Drawn to Bruyneel
Johan's Bicycling.com Tour de France Blog - Put on the brakes, Mark!
Q & A Video - Johan Visits Google
Johan's Bicycling.com Tour de France Blog - CSC or Lotto?
Johan's Bicycling.com Tour de France Blog - Evans in Yellow Too Soon
Johan's Bicycling.com Tour de France Blog - Bruyneel Speaks Out
Johan's Bicycling.com Tour de France Blog - Team Strengths & Weaknesses
Johan's Bicycling.com Tour de France Blog - Columbia's Leadout Yields Big Results
Johan's Bicycling.com Tour de France Blog - As Others Falter, Cadel Evans Solid
ABC Radio National - Sunday Extra with Johan Bruyneel *Last part of broadcast
The Australian - Tour de Lance ("We Might as Well Win" Excerpt)
BikeRadar.com - Summer Reading: Tour de France
Johan's Bicycling.com Tour de France Blog - Menchov Mess-Up
Fox 6 Milwaukee Interview - New Book by Johan Bruyneel
Road Bike Action Interview - We Might as Well Write
ESPN.com Interview - Q&A with Johan Bruyneel
A Letter from Johan - Guess Who Lost the Tour de France this Year?
Johan's Bicycling.com Tour de France Blog - Who Will Win the 2008 Tour?
Daily Peloton - "We Might as Well Win" Book Review
The Oregonian - Author Reading: Tour de France Innovator Johan Bruyneel
New York Times PLAY - Bruyneel on the Sidelines, No Regret in Sight
Houston Chronicle - Tour Has Void Without Bruyneel
USA Today Interview - French Love Losers, says 8-Win Tour Team Leaders
Toronto Star Book Review - Armstrong's Coach a Sponge of Information
JBCA Scores Big Win - Van Vooren Wins Tour of Penn Prologue
VeloNews.com Interview - Bruyneel Book Hits Stands
Interview with Chris Brewer - Johan Talks Book and Team Astana
Fox Austin - Interview with Johan
Washington Post Express - Johan in DC Area
Austin American-Statesman - Johan in Austin
Pez Cycling News - Interview with Johan
Cycling.TV Interview - Johan at the Dauphiné Libéré
VERSUS Video - Cyclysm Sundays Feature
Pez Cycling News - Bruyneel: The Book
VeloNews - “Bruyneel: We’re seeing the birth of a great champion”
Press Release - Johan joins World Bicycle Relief Board
Book Review - BicyclingPaper.com reviews “We Might as Well Win”
“We often forget that the bike is used for more than sport; for many people it’s an invaluable part of everyday life.” - JOHAN BRUYNEEL
As a World Bicycle Relief (WBR) Board Member, Johan is committed to giving back to the less fortunate, who rely on the bicycle for basic transportation needs. An initiative founded by SRAM Corporation in 2005, World Bicycle Relief specializes in large-scale, comprehensive bicycle programs by providing supply chain management, technical knowledge and logistics expertise to poverty relief and disaster assistance initiatives. To date, nearly 50,000 new bicycles have been provided as part of a completed program in Sri Lanka and several major current projects in Africa.
Read about the impact of the World Bicycle Relief - Rhonda Katite and Frank and Nebo
To learn more about World Bicycle Relief and join Johan in his efforts, please visit www.worldbicyclerelief.org
- The TODAY Show - World Bicycle Relief Profile
Johan’s relationship with Lance Armstrong goes beyond their historic seven Tours de France. The Belgian and native Texan were once brought together by their common passion to win bike races. Now, almost ten years after their first Tour victory, Johan is still committed to helping Lance win, but this time against cancer!
Johan’s 2007 commitment to the Lance Armstrong Foundation saw his Discovery Channel Team riders partner with fans, resulting in over $30,000 for cancer research and the opportunity for two lucky cancer survivors to meet Lance at the Ride for the Roses. This year, Johan will be joining forces again with the LAF and the LiveStrong Challenge series. Check back soon for more details!
To learn more about the Lance Armstrong Foundation, please visit www.livestrong.org
LiveStrong Challenge - Johan Helps Raise Over $180,000 for Lance Armstrong Foundation