Cycling Newsflash – Greenville, SC
Hincapie Wins National Pro Championships
George Hincapie just won the National Pro Championship Road Race. After 110 miles it came down to a drag race between George and Andy Bajadali. Jeff Louder of BMC was a very close third.
The race featured 4 laps that left town and went up Paris Mountain and returned to town. Upon completing those 4 laps, the racers did 4 laps through the streets of Greenville. A news helicopter followed the entire race and it was broadcast live on a jumbo screen at the 100 meter line.
Ron & I rode up Paris Mountain to watch the first 2 laps. A Garmin Slipstream rider ( I believe was Dave Z) was off the front by 2 minutes. He had a larger lead on the second lap. We rode down the mountain and drove to town. The lone rider was pulled back by a chase group as they came into town for the start of the 4th mountain lap. Descending from that lap, George Hincape jumped and went clear with 5 other riders. Two more chased and caught. Those 8 riders dominated the 4 in-town laps. On the last in-town lap, Jeff Louder went clear by 10 seconds, but, with 1K to go, George and Andy pulled him back. From 200 meters to go, it was a drag race to the finish.
The crowd was huge, both on the mountain and in town. Greenville is George Hincapie’s home town and definitely their favorite to win.
On the podium, George let everyone know that at breakfast that morning with the guys they discussed cramping. He said he could not remember the last time he cramped, but as luck would have it, he cramped with 200 meters to go. And he still won. But, it was really close.
It was announced at the end of the podium awards that Greenville would again host the 2010 National Pro Championships. It is a beautiful city, with lots of bicycle riding. Why don’t you all plan a trip here next September to watch the best professional riders in this country race for their National Championship in the Time Trial & Road Race? It’s a trip you won’t regret making.
Ron & Cheryl Adams. Dateline – Greenville, SC
Anyone that follows George H, this will interest you. So what is a BMC…?
http://www.velonews.com/article/97306/hincapie-confirms-to-bmc-with-ballan-kroon-burghardt
Bike Mostly Carbon?
Boatswain’s Mate Chief (USN lingo)
The weather in Greenville has been great. Today we are looking at 68 deg. it is now 10:am. Yesterday Cheryl & I rode to the top of Caesars Head Mtn. State Park. This was a long 7 mile climb where we saw grades of 7% to 14%. I only know the 14% because I heard Cheryl scream when she looked @ the Garmin. Hot ride up but wow cold on the way down. We will go into Greenville tonight and ride with the local club, The Greenville Spinners, on a ride they have every Tue. @ 6:pm. We are told that they turnout around 100 riders. This is off of the club web site…
Ride Info- http://www.greenvillespinners.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=296060&module_id=40428
“A” & “B” Perimeter Rd. ride led by Steve Baker (Race Focused, High Speed-Police escorted around Perimeter Rd 7.2 mile loop), be ready to not only rock but roll with these groups. Average speeds are 20+++MPH
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“C” Country Ride Group # Distance Speed
“1a” 32 miles 20MPH +++
“1b” 32 miles 19+
“2a” 32 miles 18-19MPH
“2b” 32 miles 17-18MPH
“3″ 32 Miles 15-16MPH
“4″ 24 miles 12-14MPH (No one left behind)
Helmets are required and in the event you are riding after sunset a head & tail light is required, it is state law.
The Greenville Spinners tent will be onsite to answer questions, organize, and make announcements. You can map it by using the address “2 Exchange Street, Greenville, SC 29605″, this will get you to the Donaldson Center office, we meet just across the street in the parking lot between Exchange St and Chapel Rd on Perimeter Rd. Look for the Spinners tent we will direct you.