The cycling domestique - what makes them tick?

US based PR & Marketing consultant Cristi Rhulman has a passion for cycling. And that passion has been channelled into the creation of a new blog, not about the superstars of the cycling world, but about the workhorses that pull the stars to their lofty podium heights - the cycling domestique.

And in the hierarchy of the professional peloton there are domestiques and then there are the ultimate domestiques.

Cristi's first blog looks at those riders who are super talented professional cyclists in their own right."They've won races throughout their careers and shown great promise. They have to be, or they'd never have come close to being considered for a Pro-Tour team, much less selected to help a team win premier races, like the Giro, the Vuelta, or Le Tour de France," Christi writes.

"Most of cycling's superstars started their careers as domestiques-carrying water bottles, blocking the wind, protecting the star rider, then they developed, like Lance did. And some of today's super domestiques play both roles: stars in some races, support in others."

"But occasionally, through cirumstances of team or timing, a rider will fall into the pinnacle of supporting roles- that of the Ultimate Domestique."

To read more about what makes an ultimate domestique have a look at Christi's blog here http://cyclingdomestique.wordpress.com/2010/02/15/just-a-quick-peek-at-the-ultimate-domestique/