George Hincapie
The ultimate cycling lieutenant, whose unparalleled strength and tactical savvy powered multiple champions across a record-breaking 17 Tours de France.
Born 1973 (age 53)·American cyclist·Birthday: June 29·Generation X
Biography
George Hincapie's legacy is etched not in a single yellow jersey, but in the tireless work that helped others wear it. The New Yorker turned professional in 1994 and quickly became the most trusted domestique of his generation, a rider of immense physical power and unshakeable loyalty. His most famous alliance was with Lance Armstrong's US Postal team, where he was a cornerstone of seven consecutive Tour de France victories, though that era was later tarnished. Hincapie's value transcended any one leader; he later helped shepherd both Alberto Contador and Cadel Evans to Tour wins, a unique testament to his adaptability. After retiring in 2012, he channeled his passion into the business side of the sport, founding a development team and a successful cycling apparel brand, ensuring his influence continues off the bike.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
George was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When George Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
George's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Holds the record for the most Tour de France finishes by an American rider, completing the race 17 times.
- Served as a key domestique for three different Tour de France winners: Lance Armstrong, Alberto Contador, and Cadel Evans.
- Won multiple prestigious one-day classics, including Gent–Wevelgem in 2001 and the US National Road Race Championship three times.
- Founded and managed the Hincapie Racing development team, nurturing young American cycling talent.
Did You Know?
He is one of only two riders to have been on winning teams for all seven of Lance Armstrong's now-vacated Tour de France titles.
His brother, Rich Hincapie, is also a former professional cyclist and his business partner.
He testified before a federal grand jury and the USADA about doping practices within the US Postal team.
“I was paid to do a job and I did it to the best of my ability.”
