George Hincapie Appreciation thread

[El Pistolero]

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%"

Unless they all have the name Schleck.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Unless they all have the name Schleck.

ouch!! ..be ready to face the wrath of airstream and christian.

 

[hrotha]

Of course Hincapie was good enough and could have won PR if he had been lucky and the race circumstances had been right. Lesser riders than him have won it.

 

[Carols]

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.

Alas have to agree, as much as I've rooted for Big George over the years. He was always just that little bit below the best in any given year

 

[Angliru]

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%"

Additionally, I recall an interview with Hincapie where he indicated how he would ride at his ideal weight for the cobbled classics and then have to lose a significant amount so that he would be able to help the team in the mountains of the Tour. That rollercoaster couldn't have been beneficial to his Flanders & Roubaix aspirations. Still though, as was mentioned earlier, he was just a level below the elite cobbled classic riders of his generation and that is the primary reason for his inability to live his dream. I can't help but think though that the year that he came into the Roubaix velodrome with Boonen and a 3rd rider that I can't recall, their passive leadout of Booned with absolutley no resistence really upset me. If there was ever a better chance to win Paris-Roubaix for Hincapie, that was it.

At the same time riders like Magnus Backstedt and Stuart O'Grady have won Roubaix so with a bit of luck and a team that was more focused on the cobbled classics as opposed to the Tour, maybe he could've pulled off a win.

 

[Angliru]

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.

I question whether he was strong enough and tactically astute enough. He lacked the aggressive nature to win. I recall Hoste taking the bull by the horns and attacking at a pivotal moment in Flanders one year, drawing out Boonen and ultimately losing in the end but at least he took the initiative. Hincapie seldom went on the offensive in RVV or PR. Maybe he was always on the rivet and couldn't but that is what I saw as his major handicap.

Nevertheless I'm a fan and admirer. Hincapie has IMO always shown a great deal of class, a rider that I rooted for to do well every year come classic season. Congrats to him on his career as the State's greatest classic rider of all time.

 

[El Pistolero]

^ Nah, Boonen was in full control.

It was Flecha by the way.

 

[will10]

I question whether he was strong enough and tactically astute enough. He lacked the aggressive nature to win. I recall Hoste taking the bull by the horns and attacking at a pivotal moment in Flanders one year, drawing out Boonen and ultimately losing in the end but at least he took the initiative. Hincapie seldom went on the offensive in RVV or PR. Maybe he was always on the rivet and couldn't but that is what I saw as his major handicap.

Nevertheless I'm a fan and admirer. Hincapie has IMO always shown a great deal of class, a rider that I rooted for to do well every year come classic season. Congrats to him on his career as the State's greatest classic rider of all time.

Not a huge amount of competition mind

 

[dlwssonic]

Not a huge amount of competition mind

taylor phinney can better him, but he still has to develop much more. Interesting to see how he does in PR.

 

[Angliru]

Not a huge amount of competition mind

I guess that would make him a pioneer in that respect for up and coming riders in the states.

 

[Angliru]

^ Nah, Boonen was in full control.

It was Flecha by the way.

I thought it was Flecha but I wasn't certain. Boonen was so full in control that he waved one of them through so that he could get on their wheel as they rounded the velodrome. I'm not saying that Hincapie could've or would've beaten Boonen in the sprint but why serve it up on a platter? They both just pretty much escorted Boonen to the line as if they were his own personal leadout train.

I somehow edited out part of my original post when I went in to add to it. Oh well.

 

[Carols]

I question whether he was strong enough and tactically astute enough. He lacked the aggressive nature to win. I recall Hoste taking the bull by the horns and attacking at a pivotal moment in Flanders one year, drawing out Boonen and ultimately losing in the end but at least he took the initiative. Hincapie seldom went on the offensive in RVV or PR. Maybe he was always on the rivet and couldn't but that is what I saw as his major handicap.

Nevertheless I'm a fan and admirer. Hincapie has IMO always shown a great deal of class, a rider that I rooted for to do well every year come classic season. Congrats to him on his career as the State's greatest classic rider of all time.

Ditto!!! On this side of the pond he was/is appreciated! He was always a gentleman and receptive to talking to fans...I have pics and an autograph.

Only time I ever had a problem with George was when he wheelsucked his way to a Queen stage win in le Tour. But then Bruyneel was a wheelsucker himself and I'm sure was in his ear giving instructions

 

[movingtarget]

Would love to see George get a good result at Roubaix. He will be important to Ballan's chances.

 

[El Pistolero]

I thought it was Flecha but I wasn't certain. Boonen was so full in control that he waved one of them through so that he could get on their wheel as they rounded the velodrome. I'm not saying that Hincapie could've or would've beaten Boonen in the sprint but why serve it up on a platter? They both just pretty much escorted Boonen to the line as if they were his own personal leadout train.

I somehow edited out part of my original post when I went in to add to it. Oh well.

You have to remember Boonen did a solo a week before in the Ronde though HUGE psychological advantage right there.

 

[Wallace]

I question whether he was strong enough and tactically astute enough. He lacked the aggressive nature to win. I recall Hoste taking the bull by the horns and attacking at a pivotal moment in Flanders one year, drawing out Boonen and ultimately losing in the end but at least he took the initiative. Hincapie seldom went on the offensive in RVV or PR. Maybe he was always on the rivet and couldn't but that is what I saw as his major handicap.

Nevertheless I'm a fan and admirer. Hincapie has IMO always shown a great deal of class, a rider that I rooted for to do well every year come classic season. Congrats to him on his career as the State's greatest classic rider of all time.

God, that Flanders (2006) was hilarious--or hilarious to everyone except Hincapie. Discovery hired Hoste to help Hincapie, and then Hoste, who clearly saw himself as no one's domestique, took off with Boonen, against team orders and completely screwing big George. Hoste and Boonen rode off like a smooth machine and George, ever the loyal team mate, stayed behind covering the group as his chances rode away. And still managed to come in third. Boonen had no trouble dusting Hoste in the sprint. If Hincapie and Hoste and worked together, as was the team plan, Boonen probably still would have won, or maybe not--two team mates working him over could have made a substantial difference. George was not happy in the post-race interviews. He was trying to keep his cool, and didn't come out and say "yeah, my team-mate and support rider just completely screwed me over," but you could see it in his demeanor. And the next year, Hoste had a nice Lotto contract.