Tour de France 2010 Lessons we can learn from true servant leaders!

Like many, I have been following the exploits of this years Tour, not least because of seven-time tour winner, cancer survivor and campaigner - the Texan - Lance Armstrong.

Today, Lance did not have his best, day, probably one of the worst, when he completed stage (Stage Eight) up and around the mountains of lake Geneva!

Today he turns from leader of Team RadioShack into a true servant leader in the team he leads to help his fellow American Levi Leiphemer move up the standings to become Tour champion.

Even if you are not a keen cyclist there are some things we can all learn from these road warrior professionals who ride their bicycles’ at break-neck speeds and who are supreme athletes.

These are things that we all seek from our relationships with co-workers and other is we could.

Oh! If we could just have more of what these guys have they in our business world today!

The race lasts 21 days they race over 2200 miles so it’s not a sprint and the best team wins!

In this years 2010 race there were 22 teams 9 riders in a team from around the world.

So it’s a competitive race.

Each team consists of 9 riders. They are all world class in their own right many have won bike stages and tours.
They all support “the guy” and will sacrifice their bikes their food and water for him. They even go back to get him when he falls behind.
These guys are called “domestiques” - French for servants and like domestic servants they will do all what they can for their leader even sacrifice their position in the race; give up their bike if he has a puncture.
These “domestiques” are the unsung heroes of the race.
They will ride in front of their leader to slip stream they will surround him to protect him from the elements and other racers.
They will set the pace if they feel the race is not going fast enough, the will close the gap on the competition
The are in constant communication
They have two goals in mind: For their leader to win the tour and to win the team completion.

They are tireless unrelenting, forgiving individuals who are true servant leader-followers. They offer their serves to others! They sacrifice themselves for their team.

Now that’s what I call teamwork. Congratulations and I am in Awe of the all riders and teams of the 2010 Tour De France. You may be called “domestiques” but you are true Leaders.