Nico Portal, the hugely popular directeur sportif who played a leading role in the dominance of Team Sky and then Team Ineos at the Tour de France over the past decade, has died at the age of 40. The French former rider suffered a heart attack at his home in Andorra on Tuesday afternoon.
Portal missed some of the tail-end of his cycling career with cardiac arrhythmia, which accelerated his decision to move from the peloton to the support car after a career spent with AG2R Prevoyance, Caisse d’Epargne and Team Sky.
As part of the British team’s management working alongside Dave Brailsford, Portal built a glowing reputation within cycling for his impressive attention to detail. He had strong relationships with key riders including Chris Froome, and his pre-stage reconnaissance missions proved invaluable to the four-time Tour de France champion’s successes.
In a statement, Team Ineos said: “It is with the greatest sadness that we announce the passing of our much loved team mate, colleague and friend Nico Portal who died suddenly this afternoon at his home in Andorra. We are all overcome with grief at this terrible news and would ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy at this difficult time.
“RIP Nico – your spirit will always be with us on the road and you will forever be in our hearts.”
Froome tweeted: “My thoughts are with Nico’s wife and children tonight. He was the kindest, happiest guy I knew and always lived life to the fullest. Rest In Peace Nico.”
Tributes quickly poured out from the cycling community for one of the most respected managers around.
Ineos rider Tao Geoghegan Hart tweeted: “I never met someone Nico didn’t have time for. I never met someone who didn’t think the world of Nico. He was a true inspiration. His energy, his humility & his passion for life shone so brightly. Nico Portal, it was an honour to work with you. We will all miss you immensely.”
Retired Manx rider Peter Kennaugh wrote of Portal: “My first room mate as a pro. I Can’t believe the news of Nico Portal passing away my thoughts and love are with his family who he cherished more than anything. The friendliest most genuine, kind person you could wish to meet, words can’t explain how much he will be missed x.”
Portal’s former Team Sky teammate Serge Pauwels tweeted: ”Terrible news. He was my teammate ten years ago in Team Sky and my sports director the next year. Always smiling, both on and off the bike and in the director’s car. My thoughts are with his family and his team.”
