Seven other U.S. cyclists competing at bike race
When July rolls around, you'll know where to find cyclist George Hincapie — somewhere in the peloton of the Tour de France.
2010 is no different. Hincapie will competing in his 15th Tour de France when it rolls out of Rotterdam on July 3.
That's a string exceeded only by Joop Zoetemelk, who competed in, and completed, 16 Tours de France before retiring in 1986. The Dutch cyclist, who now runs a hotel in France, won the Tour de France in 1980.
[Zoetemelk was stung by allegations that the only reason he won was because Bernard Hinault abandoned because of knee problems. Joop made the valid point: “Surely winning the Tour de France is a question of health and robustness. If Hinault doesn't have that health and robustness and I have, that makes me a valid winner.”]
BMC Cycling
At 36, Hincapie is back at the Tour de France as a member of the BMC Cycling team, led by Australia's Cadel Evans. Beginning in 2006, Hincapie has competed at the Tour de France on the rosters of Motorola, US Postal Service (Discovery Channel), and Team High Road (Columbia). He joined the US-based BMC Cycling team for the 2010 bike racing season.
For eight years he competed on teams that won the championship at the Tour — seven times with Lance Armstrong from 1999 to 2005 and once with Alberto Contador in 2007. I'm sure Evans is hoping some of that Hincapie mojo rubs off on him.
Hincapie actually wore the yellow jersey for two stages at the 2006 Tour de France. At this year's Tour de France, Hincapie will be wearing the stars and stripes on his BMC Cycling jersey as he's the current National Road Race Champion for the US.
Other US cyclists at Tour
Seven other cyclists from the United States are competing at the 2010 Tour de France, based on the current rosters.
Radio Shack
Leading that bunch is the 38-year-old comeback kid, Lance Armstrong. After having to compete against and ride for overall winner Alberto Contador on Team Astana last year, Armstrong returns with his own team sponsored by RadioShack in 2010.
The US cyclists joining Armstrong (Texas) are compadres and Tour veterans Levi Leipheimer (California) and Chris Horner (Oregon). Other teammates at the Tour.
Garmin-Transition
Garmin-Transition also returns to the Tour de France this year with a three US cyclists — Tyler Farrar (Washington state), Christian Vande Velde (Illinois) and Dave Zabriskie (formerly Utah, now California). More about Garmin at the Tour.
Sprint specialist Farrar has five wins already this year, including two at the Giro d'Italia. He'll be challenging Mark Cavendish and other sprinters for his first Tour de France stage win.
Vande Velde is racing after suffering a broken collarbone at the Giro d'Italia in May. He finished in the Top 10 of the Tour de France the past two years.
As a time trial specialist, Zabriskie will have particular interest in the Stage 19 individual time trial this year. His jersey also features the stars and stripes as he's the current National Time Trial Champion for the US.
BMC
Making his first appearance at the Tour de France is Brent Bookwalter (New Mexico) on Hincapie's BMC Cycling team. Bookwalter finished 2nd to Bradley Wiggins at the Stage 1 individual time trial at the Giro d'Italia this year. More about BMC Cycling's roster.
Oh Canada
Other Americans at the Tour de France include two from Canada, Ryder Hesjedal of Victoria and Michael Barry of Toronto.
Hesjedal is making his third visit to the Tour de France, all with Garmin Transitions. Barry, racing for Sky, will be making his first appearance at the Tour.
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