George Hincapie @ Flanders & Roubaix

greasedscotsman
greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
edited March 2012 in Pro race
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?

Comments

  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    No.

    His last podium was six years ago.
    _
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    It's not impossible, if he had a bit of luck (Hushovd getting injured, getting into the right break etc)...but it's very, very unlikely. He's had some back luck in the classics but I think his problem is that even though he's always been a strong rider he doesn't really have a that extra special thing that sets you apart in the biggest races (Cancellara has that massive engine, Gilbert has great acceleration on the climbs, Cavendish has the sprint etc).
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • blim
    blim Posts: 333
    No.

    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.
    kop van de wedstrijd
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    I love Big George, he's my favourite rider of all time. I was lucky enough to meet him at the Team Presentation in Puy de Foy at the TdF last year. He is a really 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.
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    blim wrote:
    No.

    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.

    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.
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    As good a chance as Roger Hammond IMO.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/41991871@N ... otostream/
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    BigMat wrote:
    As good a chance as Roger Hammond IMO.

    I think he has a much better chance, seeing as last time I looked Hammond didn't have a team for 2012.
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    inkyfingers wrote:
    BigMat wrote:
    As good a chance as Roger Hammond IMO.

    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...
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/41991871@N ... otostream/
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    BigMat wrote:
    Was I being too subtle? Hopefully others got my point...

    Meanie :(
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    BigMat wrote:
    inkyfingers wrote:
    BigMat wrote:
    As good a chance as Roger Hammond IMO.

    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...

    Sorry, have spent all morning arguing with my bank and I think it's robbed me of my sense of humour.
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    inkyfingers wrote:
    BigMat wrote:
    inkyfingers wrote:
    BigMat wrote:
    As good a chance as Roger Hammond IMO.

    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...

    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:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/41991871@N ... otostream/
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    The Mad Rapper wrote:
    I was lucky enough to meet him at the Team Presentation in Puy de Foy at the TdF last year. He is a really nice guy.

    I've got one of those route arrow signs from Paris Roubaix signed by George after the 2004 race :D
  • shinyhelmut
    shinyhelmut Posts: 1,364
    BigMat wrote:
    inkyfingers wrote:
    BigMat wrote:
    As good a chance as Roger Hammond IMO.

    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...

    Maybe if you'd said "As good a chance as Fausto Coppi" then he'd have caught on?
  • shinyhelmut
    shinyhelmut Posts: 1,364
    Ps he couldn't win it with the help of Bruyneel. What makes you think that Andy Rihs offers him more chance?
  • peterst6906
    peterst6906 Posts: 530
    No.

    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.
  • iOptix
    iOptix Posts: 23
    i honestly dont think we will now see him win either of these though i think he is a top quality rider and a very loyal workhorse with an immense engine. I for one will be shouting for him at the roadside of this years classics
    www.ioptix.co.uk
    The UK's number 1 eyewear and prescription eyewear specialists.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Immense engine = 49.9% HCT? :?
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    ShinyHelmut wrote:
    Ps he couldn't win it with the help of Bruyneel. What makes you think that Andy Rihs offers him more chance?

    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)
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Jez mon
    Jez mon Posts: 3,809
    RichN95 wrote:
    ShinyHelmut wrote:
    Ps he couldn't win it with the help of Bruyneel. What makes you think that Andy Rihs offers him more chance?

    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.
    You live and learn. At any rate, you live
  • Le Commentateur
    Le Commentateur Posts: 4,099
    Duclos-Lassalle had to wait until 37 before winning it and then won again the following year. It's one race where you can't quite say "no chance", but H will need luck. If he does somehow win we'll all say what a wonderful moment, after all the years of trying, and a great end to a career.
    Un uomo solo al commando
  • Gazzetta67
    Gazzetta67 Posts: 1,890
    Dont be Ridiculous !!!! Everyone knows George Hincapie is a "Climber" cast your minds back to the Pyrenees when he won at pla d adet, ..we all looked in awe when this mountain goat "flew" up the mountains on bread & water only. 8) ..maybe i should sit on the naughty step for being too cynical ?
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    Gazzetta67 wrote:
    Dont be Ridiculous !!!! Everyone knows George Hincapie is a "Climber" cast your minds back to the Pyrenees when he won at pla d adet, ..we all looked in awe when this mountain goat "flew" up the mountains on bread & water only. 8) ..maybe i should sit on the naughty step for being too cynical ?

    Maybe my question should have been will he ever win the TdF, think it was said at the time!

    :D
  • Bakunin
    Bakunin Posts: 868
    Gazzetta67 wrote:
    Dont be Ridiculous !!!! Everyone knows George Hincapie is a "Climber" cast your minds back to the Pyrenees when he won at pla d adet, ..we all looked in awe when this mountain goat "flew" up the mountains on bread & water only. 8) ..maybe i should sit on the naughty step for being too cynical ?

    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.
  • shinyhelmut
    shinyhelmut Posts: 1,364
    Jez mon wrote:
    RichN95 wrote:
    ShinyHelmut wrote:
    Ps he couldn't win it with the help of Bruyneel. What makes you think that Andy Rihs offers him more chance?

    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.

    What? Like the motorbike with the refrigerated panniers not turning up on time?
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Glad that others share my cynism of his performances, his palmares are no greater than a super-domestic but the continual hyping up of the Chuckle Bros Phil and Paul and the English-speaking media regurgitating the Team PR every spring, it almost became quite comical to watch hapless George consistently deliver another glorious failure. The best one was have been 2002 when as Team Captain and protected rider he bonked miserably, fell in a ditch and was humiliated by a 20-odd year old team upstart called Tom Boonen, who went onto podium. As for Bruyneel's ability as a Master tactician DS he might be good at making sure the aforesaid motorbikes with refigerated panniers turned up unnoticed, but his record in the 1 day classics is pretty mediocre - in fact apart from Cancellara's recent victory in Strade Bianchi, anyone know of any others apart from George's win in Ghent-Wevelgem in 2001?
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • EKIMIKE
    EKIMIKE Posts: 2,232
    ShinyHelmut wrote:
    Ps he couldn't win it with the help of Bruyneel. What makes you think that Andy Rihs offers him more chance?

    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.
    Canyon Endurace CF 2014 | Canyon Ultimate CF 2010
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    EKIMIKE wrote:
    Bit of a non-starter considering Rihs is just the financial backer not a DS.

    And Bruyneel never really did DS'ing for the northern classics. Left that to someone who knew what they were talking about.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    iainf72 wrote:
    EKIMIKE wrote:
    Bit of a non-starter considering Rihs is just the financial backer not a DS.

    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.
    _
  • shinyhelmut
    shinyhelmut Posts: 1,364
    It was more a reference to their equally tainted pasts than their suitability or not as DS.

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