Category VII Cycling

Turns out the bigger winner in today’s multiple tune-up races is none other than Discovery Channel’s own George Hincapie. Seriously. In hearing his name called out, it was natural to think the commentators were only making reference to Alessandro Ballan’s “pulling a Hincapie” by giving Tom Boonen a free ride to the finish line at the E3 Prijs. Granted, it wasn’t as big a race as Roubaix by any stretch, but did Ballan pack a slushie in his water bottle to bring on the brain freeze?

But no. The name check to Hincapie went out as he was not only described as a Tour contender – double take – but we were also assured he would be dropping with ease the likes of Valverde, Basso, Cunego, and Mancebo in the high mountains – stunned double take. Somewhere in Spain, Mar-Jac suffered a stroke.

Not to disparage the efforts of the fine folks at Cycling.tv [whose impressive line-up of races was better than the TV coverage I got when living in Europe] but calling Hincapie a Tour favorite is as incredulous as calling the Criterium International a “mini-Tour de France.” Quite simply, no he is not, and no it is not.

The theory behind the claim – regarding Hincapie at least – is that though he has been found wanting in the mountains in the past, this was do to his yeoman efforts in the flat stages of the Tour’s first week. As a protected rider, he will enter the mountains with fresh legs, and be able to fly past all the other pretenders.

In a way the logic is the same as that spelled out by Telekom’s Udo Bölts in 1997: riding for a legitimate cg contender (indeed, the overall 1996 winner in Bjarne Riis), forced the Telekom boys to ride at the front more often, but also gave them greater confidence and in general seemed to raise the abilities of even the lowest domestiques. And haven’t we seen myriad other former domestiques go on to lead their own campaigns in the major tours? In recent times alone, Garzelli started as Pantani’s domestique, just as Simoni began as a Casagrande helper. Heras, Landis, Leipheimer, and Hamilton, all worked for Lance. Escartin was one of Indurain’s most trusted lieutenants, and anyone who entered the Kelme squad apprenticed for one year before putting in their own claims. Hampsten sherpeded Lemond through the hills, and he in turn started as Hinault’s domestique (who would ever forget that). And the rivalry that started it all began when the former domestique Fausto Coppi rode directly against his former patron Gino Bartali.

The difference in all those examples, however, is that the domestiques excelled in the high mountains, where the major tours are so often won or lost. This has never been Hincapie’s terrain, precisely why he has been sacrificed in the first weeks. This is not to disparage Hincapie’s contribution to Lance’s record seven wins – he did huge work in all seven. But that is a far cry from being an overall contender in a three-week race, let alone dropping with ease more gifted natural climbers.

Yes, Hincapie won a single mountain stage last year. I thought it was a cheap and tactless win, but if you choose to see it as impressive, so be it. But, it was the only mountain stage where Hincapie was at the front of events. When Lance needed support in the mountains, they turned rather to their trio of Spanish riders: Rubiera, Beltran, and Azevedo. Bottom line: Before Hincapie can confirm that he can remain with the best in the mountains, its premature to talk about his as a Tour contender, let alone dropping the others on the hors categorie climbs of the Alps.

But back to Hincapie and back to Belgium. Bölts’s theory does seem to be holding in the South Carolina rider – he’s certainly been going stronger each year, not only in the Tour, but increasingly in the Classics as well. The challenge this year for George and the entire Discovery Channel team will be to avoid the brain freezes they like to suffer in the classics. They missed the crucial break in Flanders. Hincapie choose not to attack Boonen on the run-in to Roubaix, Devolders on team orders didn’t work to keep his break away at Paris-Tours. The latter may be especially dangerous, as coupled with Hincapie’s manner of winning in the Tour, teams will likely be loathe to work with Discovery riders this time out. Fool me once…

In the post-Lance era, Discovery Channel desperately needs a new leader, and an American one. With the Tour dominating the sport – and more so in America – it is perhaps natural that the team hype George’s chances in France to try and keep the interest of the American audience. But if he is to play his cards to his best talents, he would be better served forgetting about a starring role in Paris, and instead getting down to the details separating him from the place of honor at the end of the likes of Flanders and Roubaix.

But given the way Boonen and his entire Quick Step team is riding this early season, perhaps it is easier to concentrate on climbing away from the pack on tha Galibier...