COLORADO SPRINGS — There’s no specially colored jersey for the best cycling teammate in the world.
Escort the yellow jersey winner to Paris nine times and there’s all-you-can-drink champagne at the team dinner. Everyone wants to sign you next year — to support the team leader.
That has been George Hincapie’s role, and he always has welcomed it.
Considering the throng of fans he drew Monday in the team car parking lot after the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge prologue, Hincapie hasn’t toiled in anonymity.
A five-time U.S. Olympian who teamed with Tour de France champions Lance Armstrong (seven times), Alberto Contador and reigning winner Cadel Evans, Hincapie is in Colorado to help Evans if he makes a bid for a second title this summer.
“If Cadel is good, he’s the best rider in the world,” Hincapie said Monday, “and he has a chance to win for sure.”
Besides a reputation as the country’s top one-day event racer, Hincapie is a strong prologue rider. He finished sixth on the 5.2-mile descending course in 8 minutes, 34.48 seconds — seven seconds off the winning pace set by Patrick Gretsch.
At 38, Hincapie is at the upper age limit of the sport. Beside three national titles, he has won a Tour de France stage, worn the yellow jersey in midrace and married a podium girl. But next July, he will attempt a Tour de France feat unmatched in century-plus history. Currently tied with retired Dutch racer Joop Zoetemelk, Hincapie will attempt to become the first man to ride the Tour de France 17 times.
“One more, that’s it,” he said.
His BMC team re-signed him to ride a 17th Tour in 2012. In the announcement, team general manager Jim Ochowicz said: “In George’s case, we need him to help the young guys like (Boulder’s) Taylor Phinney and Greg Van Avermaet keep developing.”
Hincapie’s return to Colorado brings his career full circle. He competed at the junior world championships in the Garden of the Gods nearly 20 years ago. For much of the pro career that followed, he was known as Armstrong’s lieutenant.
“There’s an amazing amount of young talent coming up,” Hincapie said. “I know I’m past my prime, but I can still give a lot to this team.”
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
