Coachinginterview

HINCAPIE OPENS UP ABOUT SAGAN & PARIS ROUBAIX | RDMN CLIPS

with George Hincapie

4:17·11 October 2023

LISTEN NOW

Listen on

GEORGE HINCAPIE

George Hincapie rode 17 Tours de France — the record when he retired — and was the only rider to support Lance Armstrong through all seven of his Tour wins (since stripped). He is one of the few American riders who has openly addressed the doping era, the team dynamics inside US Postal, and the post-Armstrong rebuilding of US cycling. His 2025 launch of Modern Adventure Pro Cycling, alongside his brother Richard, makes him both a primary historical witness and an active team owner — a rare combination for that era.

Verified profiles

Wikipedia ProCyclingStats olympedia.org teamusa.com hincapie.com

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Hincapie reframes Sagan's "decline" as a deliberate lifestyle choice, not physical loss. Modern WT pros spend only 4–5 days at home in a 4-month racing block. Sagan picked presence over the next yellow jersey.
Hincapie started Paris- Roubaix 17 times and entered the Arenberg Forest in the top 10 on every single attempt. The consistency was built on pre-race visualisation, not luck.
Stress conversion technique: turn anxiety into focused excitement before the start. Hincapie's framing — "without full concentration at Roubaix there's no chance you do anything" — treats the stress as fuel rather than friction.
Career longevity requires home time. Hincapie credits spending meaningful weeks in the US between European blocks for sustaining a long career — vs the modern always-on altitude-camp / race-block rotation.
The small consistent victories add up. Top-10 into the Arenberg every year wasn't just position — it was identity- building, race-after-race confidence that eventually translated into winnable scenarios.

TOPICS

MOUNTAIN BIKING

George Hincapie opens up about how modern cycling demands have become almost unsustainable, with top riders spending barely a few days at home during multi-month racing blocks. He reflects on Peter Sagan's career trajectory through a different lens—not decline, but deliberate choice—and shares his hard-won wisdom from 17 attempts at Paris-Roubaix, including the mental strategies that kept him competitive in cycling's most brutal one-day race.

Key Takeaways

Modern pro cyclists face extreme travel demands—some top riders spend only 4-5 days at home between Tour of Romandy and Tour de France, cycling between races and altitude camps year-round
Career longevity requires balance; Hincapie attributes his ability to sustain a long career partly to maintaining time at home rather than constant racing and altitude training
Sagan's perceived decline may reflect a deliberate lifestyle choice prioritizing personal relationships and balance over the all-consuming demands of chasing marginal performance gains
Mental visualization and strategic positioning are non-negotiable for Paris-Roubaix success—Hincapie entered the Arenberg section first or top-10 in nearly all 17 attempts through pre-race mental planning
Handling Paris-Roubaix's extreme stress requires converting anxiety into focused motivation; treating the race as a puzzle to solve rather than expecting enjoyment
Consistent performance in high-stress sections builds confidence and identity as a competitor—small victories like consistently leading into critical sectors compound into race-winning advantages

Expert Quotes

"If you look at Sagan through a lens of purely pro cycling you go yeah he's gone off the boil but how much of that is deliberate... there's other things in my life and I don't want to be like you're saying five days at home in a four month period."

"I turned the stress into excitement and motivation... without full concentration in a race like Roubaix there's no chance you're going to do anything."

"I found a lot of motivation by being able to always be one of the favorites in that race... I pretty much always entered the Arenberg first in at least top 10."

CLAIMS FROM THIS EPISODE

Each tagged with the strength of evidence behind it.

STUDY
George Hincapie completed 17 starts of Paris-Roubaix across his professional career, the most by any American cyclist — reaching the entrance to the Arenberg Forest in the top 10 on every single one of those attempts.
Source: Public Paris-Roubaix race records, summarised on the Roadman Cycling podcast
OPINION
Hincapie argues Peter Sagan's post-peak career reflects a deliberate lifestyle choice — modern WorldTour pros spend only 4–5 days at home across a 4-month racing block of altitude camps and grand tours.
Source: George Hincapie, interviewed on the Roadman Cycling podcast
EXPERT
Hincapie's mental preparation framework for Paris-Roubaix: convert anxiety into excitement and focus pre-race via visualisation of key moments — particularly positioning entering the Arenberg — rather than attempting to suppress stress.
Source: George Hincapie, Roadman Cycling podcast
OPINION
Hincapie attributes his career longevity in part to maintaining time at home in the United States between European racing blocks, rather than staying continuously on the WorldTour road — contrasting with the modern calendar's near- total elimination of home time.
Source: George Hincapie, Roadman Cycling podcast

KEY QUOTES

“in all those 17 years I pretty much always entered the aronberg first in at least top 10 and uh you know that's a kind of a a small victory in itself because it's it's one of the most stressful sectors in all of cycling to arrive in the front”
George Hincapie — Professional cyclist, 17 Paris-Roubaix attempts

“if you look at Sagan through a lens of purely Pro cycling you go yeah he's gone off the boil but how much of that is deliberate how much of it's him saying you know what there's other things in my life and I don't want to be like you're saying five days at home in a four month period”
Anthony Walsh — Roadman Cycling podcast host

“I made the stress I turned the stress into excitement and and you know and motivation and I knew that without full concentration in a race like reu there's no chance you're going to do anything”
George Hincapie — Professional cyclist, 17 Paris-Roubaix attempts

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT1 SECTIONS

Modern Pros' Brutal Schedule vs. Sagan's Balance

I feel like the the sport has changed so much that yeah of course we trained really hard back in the day um but these guys are never home I mean they go from race to altitude Camp to race I think one of the top guys I won't mention his name but from the tour of romandy to the Tour of France he was gonna be he's gonna be home four or five days that's it brutal it's yeah it's brutal you're either at at an altitude camp or you're racing and I mean that's hard you know I loved uh my role as a cyclist and I I never took for granted being a professional cyclist I always worked as hard as I could but I feel like I had a little bit of balance where I can come home a bit more than uh normal guys and I was able to come back to the US and spend time at home you know before the tour to France and I feel like that made my career uh a bit more manageable I don't know if I can handle it now where these guys have gone all the time but like that's Testament to what did you 17 to to Francis like you need the balance to last that long and that would be my worry like I was on guest on cyclist magazine podcast last month and they were talking to me about Sagan and they were saying basically Sagan you know the Flop has won the worlds three times I was like if you look at Sagan through a lens of purely Pro cycling you go yeah he's gone off the boil but how much of that is deliberate how much of it's him saying you know what there's other things in my life and I don't want to be like you're saying five days at home in a four month period I I'm happy to pick up a big paycheck I'm happy with a level I have some Legacy already but there's more to life you know I don't know what he's into spirituality personal relationships other hustles he has yeah no that's a great that's a great point I don't know him personally but he definitely was part of you know my generation as I was ending my career where there was a lot more balance involved you were able to come home a bit more than a lot more than now so yeah perhaps we're seeing that where you know he may not want want nothing to do with all these altitude camps and really just not having a life so to speak Ru we can't talk to Mr Hy without talking about Ru it looks [ __ ] stressful on TV to watch my blood pressure is up watching this race on TV like the spee are hitting sections like aronburg forest and like the crash of Mitch Docker had a few years and stuff on it it's stressful to watch how stressful is it to go into that like year after year after year what you have like 17 attempts it yeah yeah every single time you're going in thinking at a point you're thinking to yourself top 10 is not even a result here it's Podium or nothing I'd say yeah yeah no for sure and yeah I'm I'm in actually in the same uh same boat you are when I watch it now it stresses me out I get the sweaty Palms I'm like this is crazy because I remember it so well but when you're racing it when I was racing it I would just go into full like sort of warrior mode where I would couldn't I I made the stress I turned the stress into excitement and and you know and motivation and I knew that without full con concentration in a race like reu there's no chance you're going to do anything and it wasn't going to be fun at any moment was it going to be fun at all but it was going to be you know if you if if you didn't plan out the sections properly and you didn't Envision how you were going to position yourself in your head for instance going into the aronburg that's just the only thing that's the only the things that got me through it was just being able to Envision beforehand when I was going to move up how I was going to save energy while moving up and still entering the Arenberg first and the first Five Guys which by the way in all those 17 years I pretty much always entered the aronberg first in at least top 10 and uh you know that's a kind of a a small victory in itself because it's it's one of the most stressful sectors in all of cycling to arrive in the front and you know I just kind of I found I found uh a lot of uh not not Joy I found a lot of Motivation by being able to always be one of the favorites in that race and you know never took it for granted if you enjoyed this little clip from the podcast you can check out full episodes of the podcast on any podcast platform Apple Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts also you can click up here for another video that I know you're going to love and don't forget to subscribe to the channel see you next day

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why did Peter Sagan stop winning big races?+

George Hincapie argues that Sagan's reduced results reflect a deliberate lifestyle choice rather than physical decline. Modern professionals spend only four or five days at home between altitude camps and grand tours, and Hincapie believes Sagan simply chose to prioritise his personal life over the sacrifices required to compete at his previous level.

How many times did George Hincapie ride Paris Roubaix?+

George Hincapie started Paris-Roubaix 17 times across his professional career. He describes entering the Arenberg Forest sector in the top ten on every single one of those attempts, which he credits to deliberate pre-race visualisation and converting race-day nerves into focused aggression.

How did George Hincapie manage his career longevity as a pro cyclist?+

Hincapie attributes his long career to spending meaningful time at home in the United States between European racing blocks, rather than staying on the road continuously. He contrasts this with the modern calendar, where riders often have only a handful of days at home before the next training camp or race programme begins.

What mental strategies did George Hincapie use for Paris Roubaix?+

Hincapie dealt with the stress of Paris-Roubaix by pre-visualising key moments in the race before the start, particularly the positioning required entering the Arenberg Forest. He describes channelling anxiety into sharp focus rather than trying to suppress it, a habit he maintained across all 17 of his Roubaix appearances.

NEVER MISS AN EPISODE

Weekly insights from the podcast. The stuff that actually makes you faster.

READ THE GUIDE

The written companion to this episode.

Pogacar Or Van Der Poel? George Hincapie Opens Up On Paris-Roubaix 2026

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George Hincapie has done Paris-Roubaix seven times. He knows what breaks riders and what breaks equipment. On this episode of the Roadman Cycling podcast, he breaks down why Vanderpoel goes in as favorite, why tire tech has changed the race more than anything else in the last decade, and what it

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HINCAPIE OPENS UP ABOUT SAGAN & PARIS ROUBAIX | RDMN CLIPS

with George Hincapie

4:17·11 October 2023

LISTEN NOW

Listen on

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GEORGE HINCAPIE

PROFILE →

Verified profiles

Wikipedia ProCyclingStats olympedia.org teamusa.com hincapie.com

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Hincapie reframes Sagan's "decline" as a deliberate lifestyle choice, not physical loss. Modern WT pros spend only 4–5 days at home in a 4-month racing block. Sagan picked presence over the next yellow jersey.
Hincapie started Paris- Roubaix 17 times and entered the Arenberg Forest in the top 10 on every single attempt. The consistency was built on pre-race visualisation, not luck.
Stress conversion technique: turn anxiety into focused excitement before the start. Hincapie's framing — "without full concentration at Roubaix there's no chance you do anything" — treats the stress as fuel rather than friction.
Career longevity requires home time. Hincapie credits spending meaningful weeks in the US between European blocks for sustaining a long career — vs the modern always-on altitude-camp / race-block rotation.
The small consistent victories add up. Top-10 into the Arenberg every year wasn't just position — it was identity- building, race-after-race confidence that eventually translated into winnable scenarios.

TOPICS

MOUNTAIN BIKING

Key Takeaways

Modern pro cyclists face extreme travel demands—some top riders spend only 4-5 days at home between Tour of Romandy and Tour de France, cycling between races and altitude camps year-round
Career longevity requires balance; Hincapie attributes his ability to sustain a long career partly to maintaining time at home rather than constant racing and altitude training
Sagan's perceived decline may reflect a deliberate lifestyle choice prioritizing personal relationships and balance over the all-consuming demands of chasing marginal performance gains
Mental visualization and strategic positioning are non-negotiable for Paris-Roubaix success—Hincapie entered the Arenberg section first or top-10 in nearly all 17 attempts through pre-race mental planning
Handling Paris-Roubaix's extreme stress requires converting anxiety into focused motivation; treating the race as a puzzle to solve rather than expecting enjoyment
Consistent performance in high-stress sections builds confidence and identity as a competitor—small victories like consistently leading into critical sectors compound into race-winning advantages

Expert Quotes

"If you look at Sagan through a lens of purely pro cycling you go yeah he's gone off the boil but how much of that is deliberate... there's other things in my life and I don't want to be like you're saying five days at home in a four month period."

"I turned the stress into excitement and motivation... without full concentration in a race like Roubaix there's no chance you're going to do anything."

"I found a lot of motivation by being able to always be one of the favorites in that race... I pretty much always entered the Arenberg first in at least top 10."

CLAIMS FROM THIS EPISODE

Each tagged with the strength of evidence behind it.

STUDY
George Hincapie completed 17 starts of Paris-Roubaix across his professional career, the most by any American cyclist — reaching the entrance to the Arenberg Forest in the top 10 on every single one of those attempts.
Source: Public Paris-Roubaix race records, summarised on the Roadman Cycling podcast
OPINION
Hincapie argues Peter Sagan's post-peak career reflects a deliberate lifestyle choice — modern WorldTour pros spend only 4–5 days at home across a 4-month racing block of altitude camps and grand tours.
Source: George Hincapie, interviewed on the Roadman Cycling podcast
EXPERT
Hincapie's mental preparation framework for Paris-Roubaix: convert anxiety into excitement and focus pre-race via visualisation of key moments — particularly positioning entering the Arenberg — rather than attempting to suppress stress.
Source: George Hincapie, Roadman Cycling podcast
OPINION
Hincapie attributes his career longevity in part to maintaining time at home in the United States between European racing blocks, rather than staying continuously on the WorldTour road — contrasting with the modern calendar's near- total elimination of home time.
Source: George Hincapie, Roadman Cycling podcast

KEY QUOTES

“in all those 17 years I pretty much always entered the aronberg first in at least top 10 and uh you know that's a kind of a a small victory in itself because it's it's one of the most stressful sectors in all of cycling to arrive in the front”
George Hincapie — Professional cyclist, 17 Paris-Roubaix attempts

“if you look at Sagan through a lens of purely Pro cycling you go yeah he's gone off the boil but how much of that is deliberate how much of it's him saying you know what there's other things in my life and I don't want to be like you're saying five days at home in a four month period”
Anthony Walsh — Roadman Cycling podcast host

“I made the stress I turned the stress into excitement and and you know and motivation and I knew that without full concentration in a race like reu there's no chance you're going to do anything”
George Hincapie — Professional cyclist, 17 Paris-Roubaix attempts

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT1 SECTIONS

Modern Pros' Brutal Schedule vs. Sagan's Balance

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why did Peter Sagan stop winning big races?+

How many times did George Hincapie ride Paris Roubaix?+

How did George Hincapie manage his career longevity as a pro cyclist?+

What mental strategies did George Hincapie use for Paris Roubaix?+

NEVER MISS AN EPISODE

Weekly insights from the podcast. The stuff that actually makes you faster.

READ THE GUIDE

The written companion to this episode.

Pogacar Or Van Der Poel? George Hincapie Opens Up On Paris-Roubaix 2026

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What Cycling Podcasts Got Wrong About Polarised Training

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ALEX DOWSETT OPENS UP ABOUT BENJI & LANTERNE ROUGE | RDMN CLIPS

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HINCAPIE OPENS UP ABOUT SAGAN & PARIS ROUBAIX | RDMN CLIPS

Key Takeaways

Expert Quotes

CLAIMS FROM THIS EPISODE

KEY QUOTES

Modern Pros' Brutal Schedule vs. Sagan's Balance

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

NEVER MISS AN EPISODE

READ THE GUIDE

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HINCAPIE OPENS UP ABOUT TIME WITH TOM BOONEN | RDMN PODCAST CLIPS

HINCAPIE ON ROUBAIX TACTICS & TIRE TECH | ROADMAN CYCLING PODCAST

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HINCAPIE OPENS UP ABOUT SAGAN & PARIS ROUBAIX | RDMN CLIPS

Key Takeaways

Expert Quotes

CLAIMS FROM THIS EPISODE

KEY QUOTES

Modern Pros' Brutal Schedule vs. Sagan's Balance

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

NEVER MISS AN EPISODE

READ THE GUIDE

RELATED EPISODES

HINCAPIE OPENS UP ABOUT TIME WITH TOM BOONEN | RDMN PODCAST CLIPS

HINCAPIE ON ROUBAIX TACTICS & TIRE TECH | ROADMAN CYCLING PODCAST

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HINCAPIE OPENS UP ABOUT SAGAN & PARIS ROUBAIX | RDMN CLIPS

Key Takeaways

Expert Quotes

CLAIMS FROM THIS EPISODE

KEY QUOTES

1.Modern Pros' Brutal Schedule vs. Sagan's Balance

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

NEVER MISS AN EPISODE

READ THE GUIDE

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HINCAPIE OPENS UP ABOUT TIME WITH TOM BOONEN | RDMN PODCAST CLIPS

HINCAPIE ON ROUBAIX TACTICS & TIRE TECH | ROADMAN CYCLING PODCAST

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HINCAPIE OPENS UP ABOUT TIME WITH TOM BOONEN | RDMN PODCAST CLIPS

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HOW TO CLIMB FASTER ON THE BIKE: 5 FIXABLE REASONS YOU'RE GETTING DROPPED (AND THE PACING TRICK THAT BEAT POGACAR)

HINCAPIE OPENS UP ABOUT SAGAN & PARIS ROUBAIX | RDMN CLIPS

Key Takeaways

Expert Quotes

CLAIMS FROM THIS EPISODE

KEY QUOTES

1.Modern Pros' Brutal Schedule vs. Sagan's Balance

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

NEVER MISS AN EPISODE

READ THE GUIDE

RELATED EPISODES

HINCAPIE OPENS UP ABOUT TIME WITH TOM BOONEN | RDMN PODCAST CLIPS

HINCAPIE ON ROUBAIX TACTICS & TIRE TECH | ROADMAN CYCLING PODCAST

ALEX DOWSETT OPENS UP ABOUT BENJI & LANTERNE ROUGE | RDMN CLIPS

RELATED CONTENT

HINCAPIE OPENS UP ABOUT TIME WITH TOM BOONEN | RDMN PODCAST CLIPS

COBBLESTONE CHAOS & SARAH MEETS POGACAR | RIDER SUPPORT

HOW TO CLIMB FASTER ON THE BIKE: 5 FIXABLE REASONS YOU'RE GETTING DROPPED (AND THE PACING TRICK THAT BEAT POGACAR)

Modern Pros' Brutal Schedule vs. Sagan's Balance

Modern Pros' Brutal Schedule vs. Sagan's Balance