HINCAPIE TO MENTOR YOUNGER T-MOBILE RIDERS

(October 9, 2007) During the 2007 Tour of California, when T-Mobile Team general manager Bob Stapleton was spotted chatting with Discovery Team veteran George Hincapie (as he was in this photo taken by Brian Dallas of Ride Ventura Sports Marketing www.rideventura.com) tongues began wagging. Rumors floated for months, well before the official “disbanding” of Team Discovery, that Hincapie would be aboard the magenta train in 2008.

So it was really no surprise when Bob Stapleton named 10 newcomers to his 2008 T-Mobile roster that Hincapie’s name was on the list. Arguably America’s best known active rider, George Hincapie joins Bradley Wiggins as the lone veterans among a new selection that's heavy on youth.

For the 34-year-old Hincapie, the move marks a clear departure from his past as he's set to ride on only his third team of his pro career after 11 extraordinary seasons in a U.S. Postal Service/Discovery Channel jersey.

"It feels like I am starting over. I'm excited about what's coming up this season," Hincapie told VeloNews. "I needed a new start and I believe with T-Mobile it's a perfect team. I've seen other riders change teams and get stronger. I was set in my ways somewhat at Discovery Channel. I am looking forward to a new challenge."

With U.S. pros Craig Lewis (Slipstream-Chipotle) and John Devine (Discovery Channel) also moving to T-Mobile, Hincapie said he's more than happy to take on the role as the elder statesman on the team.

"When I joined Motorola, riders like Sean Yates, Phil Anderson and Steve Bauer really helped me become a pro," added Hincapie, who led the U.S. elite men's road team in Stuttgart on Sunday. "If I can give half that to these guys - John and Craig - that would be part of my role as a mentor."

Besides the leadership role for the young talent around him, Hincapie insists he still has big race goals that he hopes to fulfill with the T-Mobile Team.

"And I'd like to get another Tour stage or win the prologue," he said. “I still want to win a Flanders or Roubaix. I'd be disappointed if I never won one of the classics. I've been so close before and I've had some bad luck. But luck swings both ways so maybe now the luck will swing my way."
You can read more about Hincapie’s move to T-Mobile at:
http://www.t-mobile-team.com/tmo_team/servlet/pages/967494/ref/889390
And the complete VeloNews interview of Hincapie at:
http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/13486.0.html