Esch-Sur-alzette, Luxembourg – George Hincapie was Tour de France king for only a day, losing the overall lead and the yellow jersey that goes with it to an accident-prone Norwegian on a sweltering day.
After seven years of watching his former boss, Lance Armstrong, wear yellow day-in, day-out, the genial American now hungry for his own glory was thrilled to have had the chance to savor the famed shirt for himself, if only for 24 hours.
“A really special feeling, something I’ve always wanted to do,” the veteran riding his 11th Tour said after slipping back from first to fourth in the overall standings on Monday’s Stage 2, the second-longest of this first post-Armstrong Tour.
So far, Hincapie and Thor Hushovd have monopolized the bright “maillot jaune.” Hushovd, a sprinter, won it first, beating Hincapie by a split second in the short opening time trial Saturday.
Hincapie wrested it away the next day, becoming just the fourth American to wear yellow in the 103-year history of cycling’s premier event.
Hushovd got the shirt back Monday in the same way that Hincapie had taken it off him – by sprinting for time bonuses along the 137-mile route from Obernai in eastern France.
Hushovd picked up four seconds that way, more than erasing Hincapie’s slim two-second lead, and then garnered eight more bonus seconds by placing third in the jostling sprint at the finish that was won by Australian Robbie McEwen, still one of the fastest on the Tour at the ripe age of 34.
“I haven’t slowed down yet,” said McEwen, who has nine stage wins in nine Tours and is gunning for more and the green jersey that is awarded to the three-week race’s best sprinter – a title he won in 2002 and 2004.
But Hushovd won that jersey last year and isn’t going to give it up without a fight.
He and McEwen bumped each other – the Australian said Hushovd’s front wheel brushed his left shoe – as they dashed for the line.
Hushovd’s own left shoe also popped out of its pedal, forcing him to ride with one leg for the final few yards and enabling world champion Tom Boonen – another green jersey contender – to steal second place.
McEwen said he and Hushovd talked about their brush-up afterward and “we’re still friends.”
“It wasn’t his fault,” Hushovd said.
Even if he doesn’t win the Tour, Hincapie will always have his Monday in yellow to cherish.
“To have it for a day is a big accomplishment for me,” he said. “I’m happy. I never had it before.”
