George Hincapie (USA) - US Postal Service Team

What can I say.... I've watched George race forever.  I watched this guy when he was putting a hurt on people in Central Park.
Although he currently resides in North Carolina, George is a native New Yorker.  I've always cheered for George, the hometown boy.

I have had the honor of seeing George race for several years now.  I was one of 20 people in the press tent when the Start and Stripes
was snatched away from him.  I was very happy to return the next year to see him claim his place as US National Champion.  You've done well for a guy from Long Island!

I will be adding images as quickly as I can.

1996 Thrift Drug Classic - May 26, 1996 Pittsburgh, PA Sycamore Street

• George climbing out of the saddle up the Sycamore Street Climb.

1998 Christiana Care Cup  - Wilmington, DE

• On the podium.- A sigjn of things to come.  George is making the podium and putting the finishing touches on his Championship form.

1998 First Union Trenton Race  - Trenton, NJ

• Right before the start.

1998 USPRO Championships - Philadelphia, PA

So here we are, a year later.  Everyone knows George is going for the win!  The 1997 Championship was taken away from George.  This year George is going to exact his revenge!  Little do we know that once the confidence and good results George will get with the Stars and Stripes Jersey!  Coming withn several seconds of the Yellow Jersey at the Tour de France and having an amazing Spring 99' campaign.

• Manyunk Wall - Lap after lap, George is being shepherded throughout the course.  Here George is being led up the Manyunk Wall by Marty Jemison.
• Finish Sprint - This is the best photo I could get of the sprint finish.  I was leaning over the railing in a crowd about 6 deep.  I struggled to the front and finally just decided to set my camera to 28mm and just clicked away.  Pure luck ensued, although I did have to zoom in a lot to bring this image to you.
• Seconds after Victory -  Quickly after the win I ran down to get a photo or two of George before the pandamonium ensues.
• Podium Thumbs Up - I have not seen George as happy as he appeared on the Podium on this day.  He won the race outright and here he is giving the thumbs up to a memeber of his family just a few feet from the stage.
• Podium Payday - Now this is why the Europeans come to America to race.  Besides the amazing course that we offer (come on Thrift Drug Classic... where have you gone!), we also offer very good purses.
• George's Niece - I was allowed the priviledge by the Hincapie family to go to the press conference after the podium ceremony.  While George is answering questions, his niece gets her eye on George's bike and helmet.  She is just too cute to resist not taking a photo of.

1999 Lancaster Invitational - Lancaster, PA

• Crowd pleaser George Hincapie is called to the start line.
• George and Frankie muck it up for the camera.
• Two great images of George Hincapie on the backside of the course. Img1 and Img2
• JacobPiil, Michael Barry, and George Hincapie gather on the podium blocks.
• George Hincapie leaves after signing dozens of autographs.  This guy is delayed by minutes anywhere he goes.

1999 Trention Classic - Trenton, NJ

• George Hincapie wins his last race before defending his USPRO Championship Jersey.  A clean and overwhelming sprint win.  Don't forget the amazing leadout by New Zealander Julian Dean.
• George Hincapie, Eddy Gragus, and Julian Dean stand on the podium blocks

1999 USPRO Championship - Philadelphia, PA

• Hincapie climbs Manyunk on one of the last climbs up "The Wall".