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Hincapie relished time in yellow

Published: Jul. 3, 2006
After 11 Tours, most agree that Hincapie's shot at yellow was well-deserved
After 11 Tours, most agree that Hincapie's shot at yellow was well-deserved
Photo: Graham Watson

It didn’t last very long, but George Hincapie enjoyed every second of his run in the yellow jersey.

The 33-year-old ceded the maillot jaune back to Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole) after not contesting Monday’s sprint into Esch-sur-Alzette with 21st place and dipped to fourth overall at 16 seconds back.

“I didn’t sleep in it, but I was very happy,” Hincapie told VeloNews before Monday’s start. “The night was so different than the night before, when I was thinking about how everything I could have done different (after losing the prologue by less than one second). To be so close to the yellow jersey was tough. So to get on it a day when I didn’t expect it was great.”

The yellow jersey always finds a lot of friends, but the outpouring of support and affection ahead of Monday’s start was genuine for universally popular Hincapie.

Hincapie was the center of attention in Obernai, a picturesque Alsatian town draped in yellow banners to welcome the Tour.

Riders, sport directors and fans slapped him on his back, shook his hands and snapped his picture. His Blackberry was over-run with messages and his former boss Lance Armstrong gave him a congratulatory call.

“Even if it was only for a day, it was well-deserved,” said Team CSC’s Christian Vande Velde. “If anyone deserves it, it’s George.”

Hincapie was the only rider to be on all seven of Armstrong’s consecutive Tour de France victories. Hincapie, who came within two seconds of the yellow jersey in 1998, has no regrets about riding in Armstrong’s shadow.

“What I did with Lance, I wouldn’t pass up for anything,” Hincapie said. “My career continues to progress as well. The best is still yet to come for me.”

This year he steps boldly into the leadership role at Discovery Channel and became just the fourth American to wear the yellow jersey.

He enters the Tour at a svelte 72kg, down from his average classics weight of about 75-76kg (the secret? “Eat less, train more,” Hincapie said.). With his stage-win last year in the Pyrenees and his already proven consistency in the time trials, Hincapie is one of the dark horses to finish on the final podium in Paris.

“There are a whole lot of unknowns in this Tour,” Vande Velde continued. “If it stays hot and the other factors add up, George can definitely go top 5. Above and beyond that, who knows?”

The jersey was equally important for Hincapie’s Discovery Channel team, which is moving into the post-Armstrong era with ambitions and motivation to be a contender in the race it ruled since 1999.

“It’s very important for George. The little luck he lacked Saturday he got it back Sunday,” said Discovery Channel boss Johan Bruyneel. “It was also important for the team to immediately let everyone know, especially our sponsors, that we are in the Tour de France without Lance and we are existing in the Tour without Lance, and that we have big ambitions.”

Hincapie reflects those ambitions. He already has his eyes set on the 52km time trial at Rennes on July 8. With a strong ride, he could bounce back into yellow.

Then he would be sure to keep it longer.