Hincapie and Paris-Roubaix. Luck and nastiness.

///Hincapie and Paris-Roubaix. Luck and nastiness.

Hincapie and Paris-Roubaix. Luck and nastiness.

Hincapie back in the day.

This is it for Big George, Paris Roubaix time.

Time is ticking and at age 36, Hincapie admits that next year might be his last. After a sixth place in Flanders, he’s totally ready, highly experienced and insanely motivated.

That might not be enough.

George Hincapie might still be missing two things he needs to ride into the velodrome in Roubaix in first place. Lady luck and bad-ass aggression.

The luck part is always problematic for George who has come so close so many times. Like in 2006 when the stars looked like they’d finally aligned until 45k to go, when Hincapie’s steerer tube snapped and he ends up in a ditch.

The aggression is also a question mark. Although Hincapie has finished Paris Roubaix in the top ten five times, he’s never hoisted the cobblestone over his head. There’s that last Armstrong-esque anger in the blood, that nasty killer streak that isn’t there. Hincapie is known as one of the nicest, easy going guys in the peloton. A classic act that never has a bad word to say about anyone. Time to use the f-bomb while pedaling, pal.

“I’m going into it full gas and I’m not thinking about my age. At Flanders I went into that race as good as ever in that race,” said Big George. Full gas and full bad-ass, you mean.

So here’s hoping Big George has been doing some extra prep for this years edition of Paris Roubaix. Like drinking human blood, biting the heads off chickens, watching Al Pacino in Scarface play with the chainsaw, maybe some early Nine-Inch Nails music.

Fact is, if Hincapie is in the right violent frame of mind, his BMC teammates should be terrified to even come near the man. Armstrong goes into Elevated Monk Status in preparation for the Tour, Hincapie should now be in the BadAss Mode.

“We just need a bit of luck and that will come soon. Maybe it’ll be Sunday, when you need a lot of luck,” said Hincapie. No, that’s not all you need George. You need that nasty, chainsaw-you-to-a-bloody-stump attitude.

By |2019-02-03T16:29:41-08:00April 8th, 2010|BMC|10 Comments

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10 Comments

  1. Joe April 8, 2010 at 1:32 am - Reply

    Love the photo! Sans helmet!

    Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle did it a a late age. If Georgie does it, I'll say he pulled a "G.D.L." to win.

    Maybe he needs Rock Shox to pull of the win. You never know.

    • walshworld April 8, 2010 at 10:45 am - Reply

      Yeah, GGL all the way, baby. It's not likely but not out of the realm. Matt

      • Marcos February 5, 2012 at 1:12 am

        ITs hard to ddceie whats worse. Pizattos creepy nipple, his super skiny arms of the perverted smile he has while standing naked with a pair of white shoes. Opps….looks like I just judged him, guess he needs to finish that "tat" now.

      • TwistedSpoke February 16, 2012 at 9:46 pm

        I feel sorry for the guy now so I'm actually rooting for him to do well Matt

  2. Jay April 8, 2010 at 3:30 am - Reply

    If Big George couldn't win Paris Roubaix when he was (Ahem allegedly) juiced to the gills on the Postal / Disco EPO/HGH anti-cancer bus, there's no way he'll win it now. I predict 6th – 9th place.

    • walshworld April 8, 2010 at 10:47 am - Reply

      Jay, I would also bet on a top 10 at best. I will almost guarantee that Geroge will ride smart for 90% of the race, then fail to react for that last crucial, winning move. I'm pulling for Big George but the window of opprtunity has closed. Matt

  3. FanDeSoler April 8, 2010 at 11:33 am - Reply

    re: "then fail to react"

    Matt, you forgot to mention:

    "and blame that failure on bad luck or circumstance…woah is me!"

    Legendary cyclist, incredible team-player, perennial-loser…George Hincapie

    • walshworld April 8, 2010 at 11:48 am - Reply

      A strong statement but I can't argue against it. Add 5% of Armstrong's vicious willpower and you have a guy who wins PR three times.

  4. Ricola April 9, 2010 at 9:26 pm - Reply

    Let's wish Mister No Chain the best, if his bike survives he'll probably do good.

    Thanks for another great race preview Matt, keep up the good work!

  5. Johnny Masury April 27, 2010 at 7:10 pm - Reply

    I’m really getting tired knowing that Tyler Hamilton is the only American cyclist to win a Monument race. I guess I might have to wait for Taylor Phinney to come into his form. He did win the U23 Paris-Roubaix last year.

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