George Hincapie Appreciation thread

[CobbleStoner]

congrats Georgie for setting the record of most RvV finishes ever! 17
I'm a little miffed at Sporza not mentioning if he finished in their post-race coverage, nobody online talking about it either. I had to wait for the full list of official results just to verify that he did finish.
George has done wonders for cyclists in the USA, a true hardman, nice guy, and smart businessman, good luck after cycling George and thanks for years of great memories.

 

[Carols]

Yes Thanks for everything Big George, saw him ride many times on home soil Shame he never made the PR top step, his biggest dream

 

[will10]

I'm not sure what you expected, the only time he was on screen was when we saw he was a few groups back on the Paterberg. Easy to forget about someone who isn't anywhere near the front.

 

[classicomano]

Inb4 spaghetti legs!

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

will always remember him most form the tours when he always was on Lances side, even in the frekin mountains (don't scream about the clinic here guys, im just telling about my memories of the guy)

 

[BillytheKid]

I'm not sure what you expected, the only time he was on screen was when we saw he was a few groups back on the Paterberg. Easy to forget about someone who isn't anywhere near the front.

I think his 17th Flanders is the story not his face time on the tube. Hincape has always been more a domestique despite a few years as a Classics contender.

What year was it when he was in the winning move at Robaix and his stem snapped? 8 years ago. What could have been.

No surprise he was done with his work early. Most likely his last season.

Thanks George.

 

[CobbleStoner]

I'm not sure what you expected, the only time he was on screen was when we saw he was a few groups back on the Paterberg. Easy to forget about someone who isn't anywhere near the front.

I expected a 5 second mention during the post race coverage that Hincapie had, in fact, finished and broken the record, thats it, no tv time, didn't expect an interview, just a simple mention that never came. If it was a Belgian that broke the record, you can be sure it would have been mentioned in the post race hours of coverage

 

[Havetts]

Hold your horses Cobblestoner, Hincapie was mentioned by the Sporza commentators when BMC rode on the front..

 

[Wallace]

I expected a 5 second mention during the post race coverage that Hincapie had, in fact, finished and broken the record, thats it, no tv time, didn't expect an interview, just a simple mention that never came. If it was a Belgian that broke the record, you can be sure it would have been mentioned in the post race hours of coverage

I know. Drat those darned Belgians for getting all carried away by a Belgian winning a Belgian race and not paying more attention to an American who finished minutes behind. You can sure bet nothing like that would ever happen in America.

"Smart businessman"? Are you wearing a pair of Hincapie Jeans right now?

 

[The Hitch]

Yeah big +1 to the OP. Hincapie should have recieved more praise.

If anythink its in Belgiums interest to praise him as it hypes up the race and shows that it matters to people from all over the world, seeing as an American has one of the main records.

I know. Drat those darned Belgians for getting all carried away by a Belgian winning a Belgian race and not paying more attention to an American who finished minutes behind. You can sure bet nothing like that would ever happen in America.

No one is saying he should have recieved most of the coverage, but an interview with him would have been nice. To finish the race 17 times deserves respect from the

Txente didn't even finish the 2011 Vuelta to get the record for most finishes (crahsed out) but all the networks who covered the race took time out when he did crash out, to salute him for his joint record of 14 finishes.

 

[El Pistolero]

It was in the newspapers on Saturday and Sunday. No he doesn't need even more praise...

 

[zigmeister]

I'm not sure what you expected, the only time he was on screen was when we saw he was a few groups back on the Paterberg. Easy to forget about someone who isn't anywhere near the front.

And you have professionally ridden in the race how many times?

Thought so...

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

When the peloton almost came back together at RVV yesterday, I kind of said tongue in cheek, "Hincapie ftw ". But only cos I respect him, even though it would have been a miracle yesterday. Jeez 17?

How many P-R's will he have after he does this one coming up?

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

And you have professionally ridden in the race how many times?

Thought so...

And that is relevant why?

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

How many P-R's will he have after he does this one coming up?

16. Don't know about the record there.
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hincapie
(don't know why these handy lists they do on every rider on the dutch wikipedia isn't used on the english one)

 

[9000ft]

Hincape has never been a superstar. What he has been is a riders rider who has had a few brushes with glory in certain types of races. Otherwise he has been a true team player that anyone would like to have on their team.

Of course many people only look at a riders list of wins or latest results but there is so much more to a career.

As someone said, a true hardman and worthy of admiration.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Well done George! He certainly deserved and was good enough to win Roubaix but didn't seem to ever have that little bit of luck needed to take it out.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

16. Don't know about the record there.
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hincapie
(don't know why these handy lists they do on every rider on the dutch wikipedia isn't used on the english one)

Hey, I learnt something new. Dutch Wiki for cycling history! I'm going to have to remember that one. Shame on that English version.

Way to go Big George.

 

[function]

Hincape has never been a superstar. What he has been is a riders rider who has had a few brushes with glory in certain types of races. Otherwise he has been a true team player that anyone would like to have on their team.

Of course many people only look at a riders list of wins or latest results but there is so much more to a career.

As someone said, a true hardman and worthy of admiration.

So true, i'm not a fan of "CQ ranking" based cycling.

 

[Wallace]

Well done George! He certainly deserved and was good enough to win Roubaix but didn't seem to ever have that little bit of luck needed to take it out.

What on earth does that mean? If he was "good enough to win Roubaix" he would have won it. Yes, he had bad luck, but who really thinks that even if his steerer tube hadn't broken he would have been strong enough to beat Cancellara in 2006? Boonen had no trouble out-sprinting him in 2005, and then said latter that his 2008 victory was even better, because the people he beat (Cancellara, Ballan) were better racers than the people he beat in 2005 (Hincapie and Flecha). Hincapie is was like Thor H: a solid and respectable classics rider just a bit below the top level--not up to the class of Boonen, Cancellara or Gilbert, but the next level down. It wasn't luck that prevented him from winning a monument, it was better racers.

 

[Eric8-A]

I love George. I hope to see him at this years ATOC.

 

[will10]

I expected a 5 second mention during the post race coverage that Hincapie had, in fact, finished and broken the record, thats it, no tv time, didn't expect an interview, just a simple mention that never came. If it was a Belgian that broke the record, you can be sure it would have been mentioned in the post race hours of coverage

Like I said, it's easy to forget when we didn't see him. I'm not questioning the achievement in the slightest.

And you have professionally ridden in the race how many times?

Thought so...

Wooooosh.

 

[will10]

Hincapie has had his fair share of bad luck in Roubaix. But Bruyneel's mindless obsession with Le Tour left Hincapie going into Roubaix with seven guys of which only one or two will make it to the last feed in the front group. That definitely hindered his chances. It wasn't until 2005 that they brought in Hoste, Hammond and Devolder to support him, but even though Hincapie was very much still a factor in the Classics then, he wasn't as strong as the early 2000s.

Riding against Lefevere's Classics machine on your own was a thankless task. In George's best years (2001 especially), he got Mapei'd. "When you are four against one in cycling, you lose, 100%"

 

[auscyclefan94]

What on earth does that mean? If he was "good enough to win Roubaix" he would have won it. Yes, he had bad luck, but who really thinks that even if his steerer tube hadn't broken he would have been strong enough to beat Cancellara in 2006? Boonen had no trouble out-sprinting him in 2005, and then said latter that his 2008 victory was even better, because the people he beat (Cancellara, Ballan) were better racers than the people he beat in 2005 (Hincapie and Flecha). Hincapie is was like Thor H: a solid and respectable classics rider just a bit below the top level--not up to the class of Boonen, Cancellara or Gilbert, but the next level down. It wasn't luck that prevented him from winning a monument, it was better racers.

Good enough meaning he was strong enough and was tatically sound enough to win but uncontrollable circumstances stopped him. I disagree with your above assesment.

 

[El Pistolero]

What on earth does that mean? If he was "good enough to win Roubaix" he would have won it. Yes, he had bad luck, but who really thinks that even if his steerer tube hadn't broken he would have been strong enough to beat Cancellara in 2006? Boonen had no trouble out-sprinting him in 2005, and then said latter that his 2008 victory was even better, because the people he beat (Cancellara, Ballan) were better racers than the people he beat in 2005 (Hincapie and Flecha). Hincapie is was like Thor H: a solid and respectable classics rider just a bit below the top level--not up to the class of Boonen, Cancellara or Gilbert, but the next level down. It wasn't luck that prevented him from winning a monument, it was better racers.

I find myself agreeing a lot with your posts lately.