George Hincapie @ Flanders & Roubaix
greasedscotsman
Posts: 6,962
Simple question, will "Big" George ever win either the Tour of Flanders or Paris Roubaix? No doubt he is or was capable of both, he had a 3rd at Flanders in '06 and 2nd at Roubaix in '05, but will he ever win? At 38 has his chance now gone? Did he waste too much of his career riding up big mountains in July? Has he always been on the wrong team? Does he have a chance this year if Hushovd isn't riding well?
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His last podium was six years ago.
The concept of "Big George Hincapie, Classics King" is largely a product of Liggett and Sherwen, based on a few good results many years ago.
I'd be surprised if he's ever discussed by non-English-speaking cycling fans.
I'm happy to be proved wrong, as he seems a nice guy.
That aside, and as much as I'd love to see him win, the truth is that George is in the twilight of his career. There are too many younger riders who have more of a chance. I'll never write him off though, because races can unfold in so many different ways.
I believe he's held in high esteem in Belgium. If you watch the movie 'Road to Roubaix', he is discussed at length by several famous foreign cyclists.
I think he has a much better chance, seeing as last time I looked Hammond didn't have a team for 2012.
Was I being too subtle? Hopefully others got my point...
Meanie
Sorry, have spent all morning arguing with my bank and I think it's robbed me of my sense of humour.
No worries, it wasn't really very funny :oops:
I've got one of those route arrow signs from Paris Roubaix signed by George after the 2004 race
Maybe if you'd said "As good a chance as Fausto Coppi" then he'd have caught on?
Hincapie is in the twilight of his career now.
Boonen, Cancellara and Gilbert will win again before George ever has a chance.
Unfortunately, I think the next generation are on their way fast and even Boonen and Fabian are going to have a tough time over the next couple of years.
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Bruyneel has never really cared about the classics. He is a bad Belgian. In 2002 he stumbled upon the best Classics prospect for a decade or two and he did sod all for him. He wouldn't know Roubaix from Rhubarb. At least BMC care.
(He's got no chance though)
Indeed, Bruyneel doesn't seem to care about the classics at all. George also suffered a heck of a lot of bad luck in the classics IIRC.
Still, think he's too old, plus, he'll always be marked as a classics man, and is therefore unlikely to get into a lucky break.
Maybe my question should have been will he ever win the TdF, think it was said at the time!
When I read/hear Hincapie's name I think back to the Tour a couple years ago when he was crying that Garmin kept him from wearing yellow. I couldn't stop laughing.
According to George, he was entitled...at 38 (and being a nice guy), I would expect that he thinks that he should be "gifted" Flanders and Roubaix.
What? Like the motorbike with the refrigerated panniers not turning up on time?
Bit of a non-starter considering Rihs is just the financial backer not a DS.
Anyway, i guess Hincapie could get lucky but there's nothing (this year or the last) to suggest he can keep up with the big boys. Certainly not in Flanders. Still a useful domestique no doubt.
And Bruyneel never really did DS'ing for the northern classics. Left that to someone who knew what they were talking about.
Yup.
Anything that involves seat-of-the-pants tactics he can't deal with.
Even Lefevre leaves it to Peeters.