First things first, Florian, what’s your background?
I started out as an intern at Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), the company that organises the Tour de France, and that was how I got introduced to the cycling world. I spent four and a half years there, mainly working on international events and criteriums with the aim of expanding the global awareness of the Tour de France, then managing the Étape sportive series. Then about three years ago I had a great opportunity to work with the team at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports.
What was your role in setting up the series?
My official role is Series Director which means I work as a programme manager for one of their many different championships. From the start, my job was about launching the UCI Track Champions League. I worked with the former head of Discovery Sports Events, François Ribeiro, who already had a vision of the series, and my role was to take the lead and execute that vision.
The UCI Track Champions League is a culmination of a lot of different projects, and it’s my responsibility to make sure all the departments work well together and are all moving forward in the same direction.
It must have been a huge challenge?
The first year was unique, partly because so much of it was spent working from home during the pandemic. We were starting from scratch so there were a lot of challenges to overcome and adjustments to make. Our goal was to develop the sport without compromising track cycling itself, it’s about developing the way we present the sport. The big question was whether the riders would welcome that, and it’s been great to see them embrace it. It’s an excellent source of motivation.
What does a Series Director do during the off-season?
I really have a transversal role, so I’m across all the departments, building a sustainable business ecosystem, partly by bringing together the right people. I work very closely with the Sports Director, TV producer, the people who liaise with the athletes, and ambassadors Kristina Vogel and Chris Hoy because I am not an expert in track cycling, I’m an expert in delivering events.
One of my biggest roles is to build the calendar, which means talking to venues, federations and partners to fit the UCI Track Champions League into the race season in a way that suits the athletes and all the stakeholders. I’m really responsible for making sure the series meets the vision, taking into consideration the needs of all the people I’m working with.
How does your role change during the season itself?
Well, I always say if I’ve done my job correctly, I have nothing to do at the event. I’m there to support and make the calls if the big decisions are needed, but my job is really to put in place a team with an expert in each area, from sports experts to communications and operations. I have to put my trust in all those people and be there for them when needed.
By the time we get to the events, I’m already working on the next season, so a big part of my job is inviting stakeholders and new prospects to see what we’re doing and how we want to take the vision forward.
What attributes do you need to be a successful project director?
To be successful you need to be able to position yourself so you can have a global view of the project, but also know when you need to dive deep into the operation. When you’re leading on something like the UCI Track Champions League, you always need to be thinking two steps ahead. It can be stressful, but this is leadership, this is what it looks like. Why are we doing this today? Because in three years I want us to reach that. I’ve always got the future in mind, making sure everything we do is for a purpose, for a vision that I believe in.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job?
I get a lot out of the variation in the areas I’m dealing with. I’m very curious and I like to pick up a bit of everything. When it comes to the first round and you enter the velodrome, everything is set up, the public comes in, cheering the riders on and creating this great atmosphere, you forget all about the challenges you had to overcome in the six months before the event.
I think anyone who organises an event would tell you the same thing: when you create something from nothing and then see it in real life, it’s really satisfying, despite how tiring and stressful it can be. You’ve done it all as a team, a close collective, including the riders who I see as part of the staff. And when we arrive at the end of the UCI Track Champions League, with the fireworks and the trophy ceremony, we all come together to celebrate what we’ve achieved.
