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As Published in Racing Post Magazine November 2007
What It Takes To Be A Good Domestique
Jason Miller
Ryan "Woody" Boudreaux and Jason Miller
Photo by Sharon Scheib
As we were putting together the SEECA / New Orleans Fish House racing team for the 2007 season, we began discussing strengths and what each one of us wanted to get out of the team. I was pretty quick to volunteer to be a domestique for other riders. I think it surprised a few folks that someone would want this role on a team of amateur racers. I felt that good results, especially with the tactics involved in the Masters racing division, would only be possible with a team of riders working together for a common goal. The Louisiana / Mississippi Bicycle Racing Association (LAMBRA) results confirm that this was the case for the past season as most of the points leaders are from clubs who had a team supporting them.
One of the biggest goals of our team was to work together and we quickly developed guidelines that would encourage it. We agreed early to split any prize money equally among all team members in a race so that everyone shares in winning. No one is going to get rich racing bikes at our level, however, so an even bigger motivation was recognition. Riders are quick to thank teammates for their success realizing that individual strength alone will not necessarily lead to a victory. This recognition even extended to racers on other teams. Good racers understand good tactics and compliment individuals on competing teams when they observe it. I think it also helps that members of our team like each other, enjoy riding together, and are truly happy for each others success. A top finish is enjoyed just as much by the team as the individual member who won. It works both ways because a leader who sees guys sacrifice themselves for him digs that much deeper when it is his time to deliver.
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