Frankie Andreu

Frankie Andreu is a former professional cyclist whose career spanned more than a decade at the highest levels of road and track cycling. Andreu began his cycling career in track cycling, winning the individual pursuit during the Junior National Track Cycling Championships. He competed at two Olympic Games, placing eighth in one and fourth in the road cycling race in Atlanta, while developing a reputation as a super domestique on the road.

Andreu concluded his racing career after 12 years, during which he participated in the Tour de France nine times. His transition to road cycling was marked by his signing with the 7-Eleven Pro Cycling Team, where he finished his first professional stage race, the Giro d'Italia, and later achieved second place in the 18th stage of the Tour de France. As team captain of the U.S. Postal Service cycling team, Andreu demonstrated leadership and played a key role as a super domestique, supporting teammate Lance Armstrong in various races, including the Tour de France.

Andreu's testimony was a significant part of the United States Anti-Doping Agency's investigation into doping practices within professional cycling. According to Frankie and Betsy Andreu, they were present in an Indianapolis hospital room when Armstrong acknowledged to a doctor treating him for cancer that he had used performance-enhancing drugs. When Andreu spoke out against Armstrong, he faced media scrutiny and professional challenges, which he has discussed publicly. "I have been told that my public disputes with Lance Armstrong have made it more difficult for others in the cycling industry to work with me because they fear reprisal from Lance and his associates," he stated in an affidavit released by USADA. Andreu's role in advocating for clean sport is documented in the films "The Armstrong Lie" and "Stop at Nothing: The Lance Armstrong Story," in which he appears as a central figure.

After retiring from professional cycling, Andreu became a bicycle race commentator for Universal Sports on the Versus television network. He served as director of Rock Racing and later collaborated with the American women's cycling team Proman to promote women's cycle racing. Andreu also worked as directeur sportif for the Kenda-5-Hour Energy Cycling Team, a UCI Continental squad, where he managed team selection, race tactics, and rider mentoring to support the development of American talent in professional road racing. His commitment to promoting cycling and advocating for clean sport has established Andreu as a prominent figure in the cycling industry.