Who agree's with me that Big George should be Discovery's next leader? If not, who?
hincapie for president
Mon, 10/24/2005 - 3:14pm
Mon, 10/24/2005 - 5:42pm
#1
yeah, if discovery wants to only...
...win classics. :)
don
Mon, 10/24/2005 - 6:42pm
#2
Agree
George was lucky to win his stage at the TDF because of the Lance factor.
I'm no expert but is Hincapie a leader or just a good teammate?
Mon, 10/24/2005 - 7:02pm
#3
Agreed
Hincapie would be anthropomorphically challenged to win the TdF.
Mon, 10/24/2005 - 7:29pm
#4
If you mean physiologically, wasn't Indurain about the same dimensions?
Tue, 10/25/2005 - 6:02am
#5
While outside the morphotype for a TdF champion (generally 145 – 160 pounds), Indurain from an absolute perspective was the most powerful cyclist ever. This cannot be said of Hincapie. In addition, Hincapie will be 33 next year, putting him on the tail end of his career.
Tue, 10/25/2005 - 6:40am
#6
Hincapie is a great rouleur, but he's not going to contend in the GC any more than Francis the talking mule is going to win the Preakness.
- Christian
Tue, 10/25/2005 - 7:43am
#7
I wouldn't be that harsh... (nm)
Tue, 10/25/2005 - 5:03pm
#8
Harsh? Maybe so, I'm sure there are a lot of people who would want George to ride on their team... but not too many who'd want to ride on his. There is a reason that these guys ride in teams, and George is a GREAT right hand man... but as the lead rider... I don't see that as a winning option.
Tue, 10/25/2005 - 6:28pm
#9
'06 Tour de France Winner
Sorry to disapoint all of you Lance-Discovery-USA Fans but George Hincapie or any other American for that matter will not be winning next summers Tour de France. It will be Ivan Basso with Vino as the likely runner up and Ullrich third. Basso is the youngest, most talented all-around rider, Vino has the most drive and is the most aggressive, UIllrich in his older age has lost a touch of his talent and never quite had enough drive and aggressiveness to win the past couple of years. So while I'll be rooting for Hincapie to win Paris-Roubaix and hope he does well in the tour, I'm well aware that it may be a long time before an American wins again.
Wed, 10/26/2005 - 9:01am
#10
granted
granted, i too feel basso will be the man next year, and most likely for a few to come. hincapie's got what it takes i'm sure, he'll just need more guys like him to work around. top 3 next year, ulrich done 4 good!
Wed, 10/26/2005 - 5:39pm
#11
?
"""UIllrich (sp) in his older age has lost a touch of his talent...""
What evidence to you have for this? During last year's final ITT, Ullrich came in second to Armstrong by 23 seconds and almost one minute ahead of Vino and over one minute ahead of Basso. Even at the top of Col de la Gachet at km 40, Ullrich was 45 seconds up on Basso.
Last year, Ullrich was Ullrich. He came to the Tour overweight and did not come into form until it was too late. Plus the crash the day before the Prologue."
Wed, 10/26/2005 - 12:33pm
#12
With all things being equal(If the blood doping charge is dropped) there is no doubt that the only American with a real GC chance at the Tour is Tyler Hamilton. He is the most accomplished all around American rider after Armstrong. And since he won't be ready for '06 regardless of his case, I agree that Basso is the man to beat, with Vino and Ullrich right behind. Also, Alejandro Valverde will be someone to watch as well.
Fri, 10/28/2005 - 7:59am
#13
Best American chance at TDF...
isn't Tyler. Even if he could compete, Hamilton is 33 years old, and would not win a spot on the TDF podium. I agree with Mike; Basso, Vino, Ullrich and Valverde are better cyclists, and have TDF results.
Regarding American TDF chances at this point, I would have to rate Leiphiemer and Landis with better chanches to podium (not win) than Hamilton. Even Danielson might have a shot to better Tyler's time, just based on youth. All 4 contenders would need some luck to get a podium spot.
Finally, Tyler has never been able to avoid crashes. The 2003 TDF was the best we will ever see from TH in the TDF.
Fri, 10/28/2005 - 8:13am
#14
I think the Tour can be won by any of the favorites as long as their team controls the race and in continuing in the tradition of USPS/Discovery will have to be supremely and unselfishly committed to their leader. This has only been demonstrated by CSC in the past 2 tours. You cannot say that about T-Mobile.
Fri, 10/28/2005 - 9:29am
#15
Tyler? Not
Not in the same class as Ullrich and Basso.
Fri, 10/28/2005 - 1:34pm
#16
BIG GEORGE
IF NOT HINCAPIE, THAN WHO LEADS DISCOVERY? HINCAPIE DESERVES THE SHOT, IMHO.
Wed, 11/02/2005 - 5:29pm
#17
don't shout
by now you've been told not to post with the caps lock on.
if not George, then one of these three:
1) Yaroslav Popovych. He won the best young rider (Malliot Blanc) at the TDF last year, 12th place on GC last year or
2) Tom Danielson. He finished his first grand tour at the Vuelta Espana with a top Ten finish. Had to drop out of the Giro with a knee injury. He did win last year's Tour de Georgia. Let see if he makes the TDF team!
3) Paolo Salvodelli. As Johann Bruyneel pointed out in a recent cyclingNews interview, PS would be Discovery's man for the Giro (plus he's the defending champion), but he could lead the team at the TDF, if others were not able to do so.
It's a long way to July.
