Nicolas Portal

Nicolas Portal
	Portal at the 2011 Giro d'Italia
Personal information
Full name	Nicolas Portal
Born	23 April 1979; Auch, France
Died	3 March 2020 (aged 40); Andorra la Vella, Andorra
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	70 kg (154 lb)
Team information
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Professional teams
2002–2005	You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead: Alerting users {{alert/first}} ({{Contentious topics/alert/first}}) is used, on a user's talk page, to "alert", or draw a user's attention, to the contentious topics system if they have never received such an alert before. In this case, this template must be used for the notification.; {{alert}} ({{Contentious topics/alert}}) is used, on a user's talk page, to "alert", or draw a user's attention, to the fact that a specific topic is a contentious topic. It may only be used if the user has previously received any contentious topic alert, and it can be replaced by a custom message that conveys the contentious topic designation.; {{alert/DS}} ({{Contentious topics/alert/DS}}) is used to inform editors that the old "discretionary sanctions" system has been replaced by the contentious topics system, and that a specific topic is a contentious topic.; {{Contentious topics/aware}} is used to register oneself as already aware that a specific topic is a contentious topic.; Editnotices {{Contentious topics/editnotice}} is used to inform editors that a page is covered by the contentious topics system using an editnotice. Use the one below if the page has restrictions placed on the page.; {{Contentious topics/page restriction editnotice}} is used to inform editors that the page they are editing is subject to contentious topics restrictions using an editnotice. Use the above if there are no restrictions placed on the page.; Talk page notices {{Contentious topics/talk notice}} is used to provide additional communication, using a talk page messagebox (tmbox), to editors that they are editing a page that is covered by the contentious topics system. The template standardises the format and wording of such notices. Use the below if there are restrictions placed on the page.; {{Contentious topics/page restriction talk notice}} is used to inform editors that page restrictions are active on the page using a talk page messagebox (tmbox). Use the above if there are no restrictions placed on the page.; If a user who has been alerted goes on to disruptively edit the affected topic area, they can be reported to the arbitration enforcement (AE) noticeboard, where an administrator will investigate their conduct and issue a sanction if appropriate. {{AE sanction}} is used by administrators to inform a user that they have been sanctioned.; Miscellaneous {{Contentious topics/list}} and {{Contentious topics/table}} show which topics are currently designated as contentious topics. They are used by a number of templates and pages on Wikipedia.;
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2010	You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead: Alerting users {{alert/first}} ({{Contentious topics/alert/first}}) is used, on a user's talk page, to "alert", or draw a user's attention, to the contentious topics system if they have never received such an alert before. In this case, this template must be used for the notification.; {{alert}} ({{Contentious topics/alert}}) is used, on a user's talk page, to "alert", or draw a user's attention, to the fact that a specific topic is a contentious topic. It may only be used if the user has previously received any contentious topic alert, and it can be replaced by a custom message that conveys the contentious topic designation.; {{alert/DS}} ({{Contentious topics/alert/DS}}) is used to inform editors that the old "discretionary sanctions" system has been replaced by the contentious topics system, and that a specific topic is a contentious topic.; {{Contentious topics/aware}} is used to register oneself as already aware that a specific topic is a contentious topic.; Editnotices {{Contentious topics/editnotice}} is used to inform editors that a page is covered by the contentious topics system using an editnotice. Use the one below if the page has restrictions placed on the page.; {{Contentious topics/page restriction editnotice}} is used to inform editors that the page they are editing is subject to contentious topics restrictions using an editnotice. Use the above if there are no restrictions placed on the page.; Talk page notices {{Contentious topics/talk notice}} is used to provide additional communication, using a talk page messagebox (tmbox), to editors that they are editing a page that is covered by the contentious topics system. The template standardises the format and wording of such notices. Use the below if there are restrictions placed on the page.; {{Contentious topics/page restriction talk notice}} is used to inform editors that page restrictions are active on the page using a talk page messagebox (tmbox). Use the above if there are no restrictions placed on the page.; If a user who has been alerted goes on to disruptively edit the affected topic area, they can be reported to the arbitration enforcement (AE) noticeboard, where an administrator will investigate their conduct and issue a sanction if appropriate. {{AE sanction}} is used by administrators to inform a user that they have been sanctioned.; Miscellaneous {{Contentious topics/list}} and {{Contentious topics/table}} show which topics are currently designated as contentious topics. They are used by a number of templates and pages on Wikipedia.;
Managerial team
2011–2020	You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead: Alerting users {{alert/first}} ({{Contentious topics/alert/first}}) is used, on a user's talk page, to "alert", or draw a user's attention, to the contentious topics system if they have never received such an alert before. In this case, this template must be used for the notification.; {{alert}} ({{Contentious topics/alert}}) is used, on a user's talk page, to "alert", or draw a user's attention, to the fact that a specific topic is a contentious topic. It may only be used if the user has previously received any contentious topic alert, and it can be replaced by a custom message that conveys the contentious topic designation.; {{alert/DS}} ({{Contentious topics/alert/DS}}) is used to inform editors that the old "discretionary sanctions" system has been replaced by the contentious topics system, and that a specific topic is a contentious topic.; {{Contentious topics/aware}} is used to register oneself as already aware that a specific topic is a contentious topic.; Editnotices {{Contentious topics/editnotice}} is used to inform editors that a page is covered by the contentious topics system using an editnotice. Use the one below if the page has restrictions placed on the page.; {{Contentious topics/page restriction editnotice}} is used to inform editors that the page they are editing is subject to contentious topics restrictions using an editnotice. Use the above if there are no restrictions placed on the page.; Talk page notices {{Contentious topics/talk notice}} is used to provide additional communication, using a talk page messagebox (tmbox), to editors that they are editing a page that is covered by the contentious topics system. The template standardises the format and wording of such notices. Use the below if there are restrictions placed on the page.; {{Contentious topics/page restriction talk notice}} is used to inform editors that page restrictions are active on the page using a talk page messagebox (tmbox). Use the above if there are no restrictions placed on the page.; If a user who has been alerted goes on to disruptively edit the affected topic area, they can be reported to the arbitration enforcement (AE) noticeboard, where an administrator will investigate their conduct and issue a sanction if appropriate. {{AE sanction}} is used by administrators to inform a user that they have been sanctioned.; Miscellaneous {{Contentious topics/list}} and {{Contentious topics/table}} show which topics are currently designated as contentious topics. They are used by a number of templates and pages on Wikipedia.;
Major wins
	Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, 1 stage (2004)

Nicolas Portal (23 April 1979 – 3 March 2020) was a French directeur sportif and professional road bicycle racer. He was born in Auch, France.

He missed much of the 2009 season because of problems with cardiac arrhythmia and retired as a professional cyclist following the 2010 season. He stayed with his final professional team, Team Sky, as a manager from the 2011 season. Following the retirement of Sean Yates, Portal was appointed lead directeur sportif of Team Sky for 2013.

He died of a heart attack on 3 March 2020, aged 40.^[1]

Professional career

Portal was born on 23 April 1979 in Auch, France. His father was a quarry manager and his mother worked as a medical secretary. He started cycling as a mountain biker and was successful at youth and under-23 levels in the late 1990s, before switching to road cycling. He rode as a stagiaire with You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:

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Miscellaneous

{{Contentious topics/list}} and {{Contentious topics/table}} show which topics are currently designated as contentious topics. They are used by a number of templates and pages on Wikipedia. at the end of 2001, having been recommended to team manager Vincent Lavenu by a mutual friend.^[2] Portal then turned professional with the team for 2002. He rode his first Grand Tour the same year at the Vuelta a España and then competed in the Tour de France for the first time in 2003. He would ride the Tour a further five times, always reaching the finish in Paris.^[3] His only professional victory came at the 2004 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, where he won stage 3 with a late attack on the final climb.^[4] While individual success was scarce, he established himself as one of the most reliable domestiques in the field. In 2006, he moved to You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:

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Miscellaneous

{{Contentious topics/list}} and {{Contentious topics/table}} show which topics are currently designated as contentious topics. They are used by a number of templates and pages on Wikipedia..^[3]^[5] Portal was part of the team that saw Oscar Pereiro win the 2006 Tour de France, a race he finished even though he suffered a serious crash on stage 15.^[6] He was joined at Caisse d'Epargne by his brother Sébastien, also a cyclist, the following year.^[3] He missed the entire 2009 season with cardiac arrhythmia,^[7] but rode a full final season with You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:

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Career as sports director

Although he could not speak English, Portal was hired by Dave Brailsford as directeur sportif for Team Sky following his retirement as a cyclist, with Brailsford attributing his decision due to Portal's "human qualities". For 2013, following the departure of some of Team Sky's leading staff, Portal was promoted to lead sporting director. Under his guidance, Sky riders won six of the next seven editions of the Tour de France, as well as one Vuelta a España and a Giro d'Italia. These victories made Portal one of the most successful sporting directors in the history of cycling.^[3] In 2019, after guiding Egan Bernal to victory in the Tour, Portal became the first sporting director to win the race with three different riders since Cyrille Guimard in 1983, having previously won it with Chris Froome four times and Geraint Thomas once.^[2]

Death

Portal died suddenly from a heart attack, aged 40, at his home in Andorra on 3 March 2020.^[8]^[9] Following his death, his employer Ineos Grenadiers withdrew from all further races until 28 March, citing the "unique set of circumstances" of Portal's death and the coronavirus pandemic as reasons for the decision.^[10]

Major results

2003: 6th Grand Prix d'Ouverture La Marseillaise
2004: 1st Stage 3 Criterium du Dauphiné Libéré; 9th Overall Tour du Limousin
2005: 10th Overall Herald Sun Tour
2006: 7th Overall Four Days of Dunkirk

Source: ProCyclingStats

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

Grand Tour	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Giro d'Italia	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tour de France	—	82	72	88	100	57	65
Vuelta a España	84	—	—	—	—	—	—

Source: ProCyclingStats

References

^ Gialanella, Luca (3 March 2020). "Tragedia Portal: è morto a 40 anni per infarto il d.s. di Froome e Bernal". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 4 March 2020.
^ ^a ^b Cossins, Peter (4 March 2020). "Obituary: Nicolas Portal, 1979 – 2020". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Ryan, Barry (4 March 2020). "Nicolas Portal – Obituary". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
^ Maloney, Tim (9 June 2004). "Portal opens the door to the Tour". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
^ "Bank on Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears to ride big in 2006". cyclingnews.com. 23 January 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
^ "Oscar Pereiro defended his jersey until the last metre". cyclingnews.com. 19 July 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
^ Moore, Richard (20 February 2010). "Portal returns to racing after heart problem". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Nicolas Portal dies of heart attack at 40". cyclingsnews.com. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
^ "Nicolas Portal, Team Ineos sporting director, dies of heart attack". The Guardian. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
^ Ballinger, Alex (5 March 2020). "Team Ineos withdraw from upcoming races". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 5 March 2020.

External links

Nicolas Portal at trap-friis.dk
Official website (in French)

[1] Gialanella, Luca (3 March 2020). "Tragedia Portal: è morto a 40 anni per infarto il d.s. di Froome e Bernal". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 4 March 2020.

[cw-2] Cossins, Peter (4 March 2020). "Obituary: Nicolas Portal, 1979 – 2020". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 5 March 2020.

[obituary-3] Ryan, Barry (4 March 2020). "Nicolas Portal – Obituary". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 4 March 2020.

[4] Maloney, Tim (9 June 2004). "Portal opens the door to the Tour". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 4 March 2020.

[5] "Bank on Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears to ride big in 2006". cyclingnews.com. 23 January 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2020.

[6] "Oscar Pereiro defended his jersey until the last metre". cyclingnews.com. 19 July 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2020.

[7] Moore, Richard (20 February 2010). "Portal returns to racing after heart problem". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 4 March 2020.

[cn_death-8] "Nicolas Portal dies of heart attack at 40". cyclingsnews.com. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.

[9] "Nicolas Portal, Team Ineos sporting director, dies of heart attack". The Guardian. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.

[10] Ballinger, Alex (5 March 2020). "Team Ineos withdraw from upcoming races". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 5 March 2020.

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Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	Germany