Jul 22 2008
Pro Training Ride… Who Would You Pick?
We all have our favorite pro cyclists and maybe because of them a favorite team. There are great guys in the pro peloton with great personalities. So, if you could go on a training ride with a pro cyclist… who would you pick? I’ve always liked George Hincapie. He’s modest, a great experienced all around rider and certainly loyal. 
He’s the only cyclist to ride with eight winning Tour de France teams. Of course, seven of those were with Lance on U.S. Postal and Discovery. The other was in support of Alberto Contador and Discovery. Hincapie’s home in the states is in Greenville, South Carolina. He’s working on a real estate development there called Pla d’Adet, a 300 acre performance-training village. You can read more about George in a recent interview with Cycling News. So, there’s my pick. Who’s yours?
I would ride with Donald Jones, oh I mean Michael Berry. I love his book, Inside the Postal Bus. It gives great insight into what goes on within the team during the Tour de France.
BRIAN– Nice SOPRO! You can be my Lieutenant in Charlotte!
Yes, I’ve been reading Michael Barry’s book and it is very good.
Nice choice… seems like a really good guy.
My first vote would be with Hincapie. He has always been solid and stayed away from any politics of the sport. But because Donald is riding with him, I’ll pull up alongside with my fellow Canadian Hesjedal. As Brian is riding with Barry whose hometown is Toronto, I’ll feel right at home.
IAN– Sounds so good we might as well group up. We can work in some drafting, sprints and climbing. Then once we catch up with the pros at the restaurant :)… we can grab a nice meal with a fine bottle of red… or beers (whatever the preference). That would give us plenty of time to make sure we get in all our questions.
Jens Voigt. Like George, he’s another completely loyal lieutenant and a true hard man. Great attitude. Clearly loves to ride whereas some seem to treat it like work.
MJ– Thanks for visting and commenting. Jens is a great choice! He should certainly be in my top three now that I think about it. Jens truly loves the sport and leaves absolutely everything on the road!
My favorite to this day is Miguel Indurain. I can still remember him tearing it up in the mountains in the 90’s, and he could also ride a great TT. The other thing that I like about him is that he not only won the Tour De France, but he also won the Giro in two of the same years that he won the tour. He was an awesome cyclist.
http://www.cyclinghalloffame.com/riders/rider_bio.asp?rider_id=37
JEFF– Yes, it would be nice to ride with one of the past greats!
Thanks for the link.
I truly do not know enough to even comment, but believe me, between you & Chris you are piquing my cycling interest more and more!!
LILY– COOL… stay tuned and keep pedaling or are you looking to get into pedaling? I see that you’re kickin’ it in those runs. Here to answer any questions about cycling. Cheers!
I think I’m gonna have to go with the top rider on the Garmin-Chipolte team, Christian Vandevelvde. He’s killer in the time trials which would be good for triathlon training. Then as a bonus, maybe he’ll hook up some burros after the ride.
ROB– Nice… are we driven by food or what! Good choice as well. It’s been fun to watch the Tour and especially Christian do so well. He’s already looking forward to next year. I hope he ends up in the top five this year! I think with the ITT… it is possible.
Super Mario - because I am sure there would be plenty of hot women close by.
CHRIS– Way to go! You always come through with a solid response! Smart Man.
Yeah, it’s big George for me too. I saw him up close in France and I have to admit that I was pretty star-struck. Go big George!
Arlyn– Cool! I need to get to Europe and see him race before he retires. It would be so great to see Paris-Roubaix.