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The Loyal Lieutenant: Leading Out Lance and Pushing Through the Pain on the Rocky Road to Paris
Trading on the sterling reputation that enabled him to survive a widely publicized doping confession, American cyclist “Big George” Hincapie—a record seventeen-time Tour de France participant, Olympian, and key witness in the Lance Armstrong doping case—offers an insightful account of his esteemed career and a sports era defined by performance-enhancing drug use. In this highly anticipated cycling memoir, Big George Hincapie provides the most comprehensive account of a dark period in professional cycling, in which doping scandals have decimated the careers of some of the top athletes in the field. The Loyal Lieutenant reveals how Hincapie’s life has been intrinsically tied to the sport he loves, from his earliest days in Queens, where he was influenced by his Colombian father’s love of cycling and the Colombian “cycling warrior” archetype. Hincapie takes us through his amateur years to the Olympics, and chronicles his exhilarating ride as a professional, including finding his true calling as Lance Armstrong’s most prized “domestique”—leading his then best friend to seven straight Tour de France victories. Hincapie speaks openly about his relationship with Armstrong, how he himself began doping, and why he quit long before the headline-making revelations. His personal evolution is the journey of a man dedicated to coming clean about his past and to restore honor to the sport he loves.
336 pages, Paperback
First published May 27, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
August 27, 2014
You look at the cover of this book and you think, “Great! We can finally hear Hincapie’s side.” That’s the book I wanted to read. I always loved watching him ride. His long, celebrated career was exciting and interesting. This book is not. Once I cracked the cover, I started to quickly figure out the more juicy parts of his story by what he didn’t include. If you don’t sniff out the same thing right away, you certainly will when you open to the sparse and carefully curated picture section in the middle of the book. Hincapie wants to write the “let’s play down the doping and Lance Armstrong association” game here by talking about everything else instead. When he does mention the reason most people will pick up the book (he put Armstrong on the cover, come on!), it either comes off heavily edited or is a rehashing of what we already know.
Let me put it this way: I would have read this book even without all the doping scandal revelations of the past few years. And, yes—I know there are only a few ways you can say, “That climb was fucking hard and I was pedaling as fast as I could.” But George. GEORGE. First: The ghost-writing sucked. The voice doesn’t feel authentic and there is flowery, splashy prose to back that up. Second, he eagerly speeds through the US Postal and the Tour de France years to get back to his more singular accomplishments in the classics. Understandable, okay, but annoying for the reader. He didn’t have to expunge one for the other. If you’re going to tell your story, tell the whole thing. Which leads me to my third issue: He really wants to lift the doper mantle right off his shoulders. He tries several tactics to make this happen. He downplays it. He talks about his naturally high hematocrit level which limited the amount of dope he could do. (This is fair, but reads like a “I did it but not as bad as that other guy” whine.) He talks about when made the decision to ride clean in the late 2000’s. He talks about this a lot. What he doesn’t talk about is anything that could potentially tarnish the good guy reputation that he hopes to preserve. The funny thing is that the more he pleads his case, the more he tries to strategically skip from Tour to Tour in order to move on to other things, the more I began to believe that he was instead an integral, upper level cog in the US Postal doping machine.
Let me put it this way: I would have read this book even without all the doping scandal revelations of the past few years. And, yes—I know there are only a few ways you can say, “That climb was fucking hard and I was pedaling as fast as I could.” But George. GEORGE. First: The ghost-writing sucked. The voice doesn’t feel authentic and there is flowery, splashy prose to back that up. Second, he eagerly speeds through the US Postal and the Tour de France years to get back to his more singular accomplishments in the classics. Understandable, okay, but annoying for the reader. He didn’t have to expunge one for the other. If you’re going to tell your story, tell the whole thing. Which leads me to my third issue: He really wants to lift the doper mantle right off his shoulders. He tries several tactics to make this happen. He downplays it. He talks about his naturally high hematocrit level which limited the amount of dope he could do. (This is fair, but reads like a “I did it but not as bad as that other guy” whine.) He talks about when made the decision to ride clean in the late 2000’s. He talks about this a lot. What he doesn’t talk about is anything that could potentially tarnish the good guy reputation that he hopes to preserve. The funny thing is that the more he pleads his case, the more he tries to strategically skip from Tour to Tour in order to move on to other things, the more I began to believe that he was instead an integral, upper level cog in the US Postal doping machine.
October 16, 2015
(Note: I will be riding the Hincapie Gran Fondo next weekend, Oct. 22nd -so yes, I'm a fan)
OK, so he's not Hemingway...we knew that going in. But Hincapie is an American original who lived and prospered through one of the most tumultuous periods in professional cycling. The story is told through his own voice, without apology, but of course with context.
I enjoyed his tells-it-as-he-saw it prose - although I'm left wondering if he has really given his experience the introspection that comes with maturity. For example - clear in his book, though not so bluntly written, was his dislike (hmm, perhaps lack of respect would be better) for Floyd Landis. However, Floyd was a younger rider, who, unlike Hincapie, came of age under the guidance and mentorship of Lance Armstrong. In later years, when Landis adopted not just the same win-at-any-cost philosophy of Armstrong (meaning, PED's), but also the mental antagonistic side (intimidation and subordination of both teammates and other pro riders) Hincapie seems to fail to connect the dots. Instead of drawing this line, he supports Armstrong as a friend and respected peer, but punishes Landis.
But his story is much more than 'just' Armstrong & Landis. It's a very human story with very human and flawed characters. A story that only gets amplified when viewed through the seemingly life-or-death metaphor of professional cycling.
OK, so he's not Hemingway...we knew that going in. But Hincapie is an American original who lived and prospered through one of the most tumultuous periods in professional cycling. The story is told through his own voice, without apology, but of course with context.
I enjoyed his tells-it-as-he-saw it prose - although I'm left wondering if he has really given his experience the introspection that comes with maturity. For example - clear in his book, though not so bluntly written, was his dislike (hmm, perhaps lack of respect would be better) for Floyd Landis. However, Floyd was a younger rider, who, unlike Hincapie, came of age under the guidance and mentorship of Lance Armstrong. In later years, when Landis adopted not just the same win-at-any-cost philosophy of Armstrong (meaning, PED's), but also the mental antagonistic side (intimidation and subordination of both teammates and other pro riders) Hincapie seems to fail to connect the dots. Instead of drawing this line, he supports Armstrong as a friend and respected peer, but punishes Landis.
But his story is much more than 'just' Armstrong & Landis. It's a very human story with very human and flawed characters. A story that only gets amplified when viewed through the seemingly life-or-death metaphor of professional cycling.
July 3, 2014
Well, let's get the skinny out of the way. This is not a very well written book, and it is quite linear and boring. I always liked Hincapie- still do- but this is a tough read. I remember seeing Hincapie rise as a junior and loved the way he road and showed the toughness of a true rouleur. With all of his experience and history, you would think there would be some great stories. I was hoping for stories of the classics and of racing, but that is a minor part of the book. I know there are stories associated with his racing- like what really happened in the 2003 Paris-Roubaix with Boonen and why did your trophy from the 2007 Tour of Benelux end up in ditch? Instead there are very lame and canned love quotes from people around George, sly and one-sided attacks on people like Horner and Andreu without any explanation, and this idea that somehow the doping is all that people are really interested in reading about. The book feels rushed, flat, very little depth and insight, and worst of all, boring.
June 22, 2014
Meh. I wanted to like this book more as I have always admired Big George. I felt Tyler Hamilton's book was much better.
February 29, 2016
What a legend George Hincapie is! The sport of cycling is much better today for having had him a part of it for close to two decades. George tells the story of his long career in cycling, from the very beginning where he started out riding his bike as a kid in Queens New York in the early ‘80’s, right through to his last race in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado in 2012; and all the races in between. He describes all the ups and downs he experienced over all those years and it is very interesting to get a taste of what it takes to be a pro in one of the most demanding of all sports. This is a guy who worked tirelessly and selflessly throughout his whole career to be the best he could be, and he did it mainly for the glory of others. Riders of the likes of Lance Armstrong, Mark Cavendish, Alberto Contador and Cadel Evens all owe a large part of their successes to George Hincapie, and each has duly credited George with the accolades he deserves.
In 2012 George admitted to having used PED (Performance Enhancing Drugs) in the earlier part of his career when he rode for the teams of Motorola, US Postal Service and Discovery Channel. As a result of a federal, and subsequent USADA investigation into the use of drugs in the sport at the time, he ended up having several of his wins stripped from him by the UCI and was also suspended for six months. George’s retirement from the sport coincided with his suspension so seemingly it didn’t affect him. (Although it is not stated outright in the book, I don’t believe he ever planned to return to the sport after the suspension.) Those years have been described as some of the ‘darker days’ of professional cycling; the use of EPO, testosterone and blood doping being the norm if one wanted to compete. George, like so many other young riders of that era, got caught in the unenviable position of having to decide whether to use PEDs and have a career or essentially forfeit it all and go home. PEDs leveled the playing field and unfortunately had become a necessity.
At some point in the mid two thousands, George had had enough of the stress and complications related to PEDs, and decided that he wanted to start down a path to riding ‘clean’. His decision was no doubt a difficult but noble one, and in the end helped clean up the sport from the inside. He began by signing a contract with team Highroad; an organization that had similar aspirations to his. His influence on younger riders within the peloton had a great effect, and more and more riders began to follow the same path. George’s leadership qualities and the respect he garnered from the riders in the peloton may have been in part the catalyst that helped the sport get back on-track, and it would seem that doping has ostensibly become the exception rather than the norm.
In 2012 George admitted to having used PED (Performance Enhancing Drugs) in the earlier part of his career when he rode for the teams of Motorola, US Postal Service and Discovery Channel. As a result of a federal, and subsequent USADA investigation into the use of drugs in the sport at the time, he ended up having several of his wins stripped from him by the UCI and was also suspended for six months. George’s retirement from the sport coincided with his suspension so seemingly it didn’t affect him. (Although it is not stated outright in the book, I don’t believe he ever planned to return to the sport after the suspension.) Those years have been described as some of the ‘darker days’ of professional cycling; the use of EPO, testosterone and blood doping being the norm if one wanted to compete. George, like so many other young riders of that era, got caught in the unenviable position of having to decide whether to use PEDs and have a career or essentially forfeit it all and go home. PEDs leveled the playing field and unfortunately had become a necessity.
At some point in the mid two thousands, George had had enough of the stress and complications related to PEDs, and decided that he wanted to start down a path to riding ‘clean’. His decision was no doubt a difficult but noble one, and in the end helped clean up the sport from the inside. He began by signing a contract with team Highroad; an organization that had similar aspirations to his. His influence on younger riders within the peloton had a great effect, and more and more riders began to follow the same path. George’s leadership qualities and the respect he garnered from the riders in the peloton may have been in part the catalyst that helped the sport get back on-track, and it would seem that doping has ostensibly become the exception rather than the norm.
January 6, 2015
This is welcome, compelling story that an entire generation of cyclists and bike racing fans should read. (Alas, it's hard to give 5 stars to an all-too-often poorly organized, lightly edited, and cobbled together memoir. But very few people who buy this book - particularly in hardback - were seeking lyrical prose or soaring rhetoric to begin with....)
History will recall Hincapie as one of the (alas, not the) greatest American bike racers.... Which is remarkable to the extent he never won an Olympic gold medal (yet rode in five Olympic games!!!), never won the Tour de France (but participated 17 times!!!), and - alas - much of the world would sneer at multiple US Road Championship titles.... But the more you knew about bike racing over the last 20 years, the more you respected and rooted for Big George, and it's great to hear his story and meet his family and his teammates through his eyes.
But you won't find this book at the front of your bookstore because George is one the peleton's most beloved riders - no, this is just another installment of the post-hoc to pro cycling's darkest hour, the doping practices and scandals that dominated the generation and, for Americans, culminated in the disgrace and descent of Lance Armstrong. But this book is different, in that it's one of the first open, candid, painfully honest attempts at self-assessment by a major player (and, when I say major player, I most specifically mean a leading character in the made-for-TV saga, to the extent that most believe - whether true or not - that George's testimony was the straw that broke the camel's back in Armstrong ultimate demise). I've read a healthy stack of cycling books from George's colleagues (including Lance Armstrong, Floyd Landis, and others) which, over the years, have systematically transitioned (after the fact) from the non-fiction to the fiction-and-fantasy genre. Now, in addition to the investigative reporters' efforts, we're given a different perspective from a true insider or, maybe more accurately, a survivor. It's painful. It's confusing. And I doubt it will change anyone's perspective about what is (or was) right, wrong, acceptable, or fundamentally flawed.
The book only increased my respect for Hincapie. He enjoyed a great career, and he's a class act. My guess is he'd rather things played out differently, but it's too late for that now. In the end, life is complicated, and this story is no different.....
History will recall Hincapie as one of the (alas, not the) greatest American bike racers.... Which is remarkable to the extent he never won an Olympic gold medal (yet rode in five Olympic games!!!), never won the Tour de France (but participated 17 times!!!), and - alas - much of the world would sneer at multiple US Road Championship titles.... But the more you knew about bike racing over the last 20 years, the more you respected and rooted for Big George, and it's great to hear his story and meet his family and his teammates through his eyes.
But you won't find this book at the front of your bookstore because George is one the peleton's most beloved riders - no, this is just another installment of the post-hoc to pro cycling's darkest hour, the doping practices and scandals that dominated the generation and, for Americans, culminated in the disgrace and descent of Lance Armstrong. But this book is different, in that it's one of the first open, candid, painfully honest attempts at self-assessment by a major player (and, when I say major player, I most specifically mean a leading character in the made-for-TV saga, to the extent that most believe - whether true or not - that George's testimony was the straw that broke the camel's back in Armstrong ultimate demise). I've read a healthy stack of cycling books from George's colleagues (including Lance Armstrong, Floyd Landis, and others) which, over the years, have systematically transitioned (after the fact) from the non-fiction to the fiction-and-fantasy genre. Now, in addition to the investigative reporters' efforts, we're given a different perspective from a true insider or, maybe more accurately, a survivor. It's painful. It's confusing. And I doubt it will change anyone's perspective about what is (or was) right, wrong, acceptable, or fundamentally flawed.
The book only increased my respect for Hincapie. He enjoyed a great career, and he's a class act. My guess is he'd rather things played out differently, but it's too late for that now. In the end, life is complicated, and this story is no different.....
August 14, 2014
After finishing Lance Armstrong's biography, my friend lent me this one to get another perspective on biking and doping and Lance. He warned me that I might feel "dirty" after reading this.
I don't know that I necessarily felt dirty though. But that is probably because this was not written like a normal autobiography. There were pull-out quotes from other people about how awesome George was (which was a little strange, but acceptable). The worst thing is that it read like a travelog. There was rarely any emotion expressed or any indication of thoughts. It was just, "we went here and we did this, then we went there and did that." It made for very dry reading. It also made it seem like George was trying to hide information, which is probably where the "dirty" feeling came from.
I hadn't really thought about the roles played by a team's support to the big name, so it was interesting to read a little bit about how that worked.
I don't know that I necessarily felt dirty though. But that is probably because this was not written like a normal autobiography. There were pull-out quotes from other people about how awesome George was (which was a little strange, but acceptable). The worst thing is that it read like a travelog. There was rarely any emotion expressed or any indication of thoughts. It was just, "we went here and we did this, then we went there and did that." It made for very dry reading. It also made it seem like George was trying to hide information, which is probably where the "dirty" feeling came from.
I hadn't really thought about the roles played by a team's support to the big name, so it was interesting to read a little bit about how that worked.
June 17, 2015
This was an interesting book, but I'd have preferred it to be longer with more detail on what George was thinking at different points of his career. He gives a good overview - high level - explanation of things, but really does not get into the details I was hoping for. Essentially, I didn't learn anything new that I hadn't heard before. Maybe that's because there's not anything more to learn. Craig Hummer does a good job crafting the words, but I was really hoping to get a deep peak into the mind of one of my favorite riders.
I wanted to know more about what he was thinking and doing during his Queen Stage win at the TdF, and during that devastating crash at Paris Rubaix, and yes, about all those times he used EPO. As a cycling fan I want to know and understand what was going on in someone's head at those crucial junctions. Maybe there's not much to tell - but I doubt it.
I wanted to know more about what he was thinking and doing during his Queen Stage win at the TdF, and during that devastating crash at Paris Rubaix, and yes, about all those times he used EPO. As a cycling fan I want to know and understand what was going on in someone's head at those crucial junctions. Maybe there's not much to tell - but I doubt it.
September 23, 2025
2.5/5
I hate to say it, but I found this book very tedious. Given Hincapie’s career and perspective made this book have the potential to be excellent. Never being the guy going after the yellow jersey but rather the one leading him out, getting to know/play an integral role in the careers of big names like Lance Armstrong and Mark Cavendish, being raised in a cycling family, starting a cycling brand and development team, being a part of cycling before/during/after the big doping years, etc. mean that he has a unique and fascinating story to tell.
But…this is not a well-written book. There are SO many tiny details (do we really need to know every detail when he has a stomach problem, or that he and Tejay went into town and then back to their separate hotels after a training ride?) that make the book drag, and sometimes the topics and timelines jump around. At one point, he describes his marriage to his wife, then one chapter later she is his girlfriend a few years prior, with no context or warning for the jump in time. A few of the in-depth details are fine, like when he’s observing the drug routine of a teammate, since that’s relevant to future pivotal moments in his career, but the mundane day-to-day bits make this book way too long.
So many people in his life appear in their own words, telling part of the story in this book. That proved to be an interesting writing technique but, once again, too many voices and stories added to the drag of the book. We don’t need quotes from seven different cyclists providing slight variations on the concept of what a great guy George is. I would have preferred if this was cut down to focus on important bits, like when Jonathan Vaughters explains how/why doping didn’t affect George’s performance as much as other cyclists, and when Lance talks about pivotal moments in their relationship.
George Hincapie had an incredible cycling career, and it was interesting to hear his perspective on different eras of the sport. I could have enjoyed this book a lot more if not for all the mundane bits, which made me keep putting it down. Probably didn’t help that I read Jonathan Vaughters’ autobiography directly before this (in just a few days, instead of a span of almost two months). Vaughters raced during the same eras (even when they were kids; his description of racing against Hincapie for the first time as kids is amusing), with many of the same people, but he *is* a good writer, and as a result, I found his book to be much more engaging than this one.
I wish I liked this book more. The intention is excellent, but the execution is sub-par. The weight of major moments almost gets lost amidst the abundance of mundane details.
I hate to say it, but I found this book very tedious. Given Hincapie’s career and perspective made this book have the potential to be excellent. Never being the guy going after the yellow jersey but rather the one leading him out, getting to know/play an integral role in the careers of big names like Lance Armstrong and Mark Cavendish, being raised in a cycling family, starting a cycling brand and development team, being a part of cycling before/during/after the big doping years, etc. mean that he has a unique and fascinating story to tell.
But…this is not a well-written book. There are SO many tiny details (do we really need to know every detail when he has a stomach problem, or that he and Tejay went into town and then back to their separate hotels after a training ride?) that make the book drag, and sometimes the topics and timelines jump around. At one point, he describes his marriage to his wife, then one chapter later she is his girlfriend a few years prior, with no context or warning for the jump in time. A few of the in-depth details are fine, like when he’s observing the drug routine of a teammate, since that’s relevant to future pivotal moments in his career, but the mundane day-to-day bits make this book way too long.
So many people in his life appear in their own words, telling part of the story in this book. That proved to be an interesting writing technique but, once again, too many voices and stories added to the drag of the book. We don’t need quotes from seven different cyclists providing slight variations on the concept of what a great guy George is. I would have preferred if this was cut down to focus on important bits, like when Jonathan Vaughters explains how/why doping didn’t affect George’s performance as much as other cyclists, and when Lance talks about pivotal moments in their relationship.
George Hincapie had an incredible cycling career, and it was interesting to hear his perspective on different eras of the sport. I could have enjoyed this book a lot more if not for all the mundane bits, which made me keep putting it down. Probably didn’t help that I read Jonathan Vaughters’ autobiography directly before this (in just a few days, instead of a span of almost two months). Vaughters raced during the same eras (even when they were kids; his description of racing against Hincapie for the first time as kids is amusing), with many of the same people, but he *is* a good writer, and as a result, I found his book to be much more engaging than this one.
I wish I liked this book more. The intention is excellent, but the execution is sub-par. The weight of major moments almost gets lost amidst the abundance of mundane details.
April 8, 2018
There's some irony in an autobiography written by a low-drama athlete, with a well controlled ego. And that absence of drama may be why I have to say I wasn't crazy about the book.
Hincapie's racing career was marked by tremendous triumphs for those he helped, not just the tainted victories by Lance Armstrong, but enduring ones by Cadel Evans and others, and by near misses in his own favorite races, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
In sports terms, Hincapie is a rarity -- a true star but a star as a team player, someone who helps other members of his team attain glory, maybe the cycling equivalent of an offensive lineman in football.
He tells his story from childhood to his retirement from cycling. His deep appreciation for his family -- especially his father and brother and their contribution to his cycling career -- is genuine. Along the way, the mutual appreciation of teammates, managers, and friends is documented in contributions to the story, inserted into the text in the words of those teammates, managers and friends. Those perspectives add considerably to the story, something you don't always see in an autobiography but appropriate to someone who would rather someone else spoke for him.
Included among the perspectives are those of Lance Armstrong, now adopting a humbler pose and reconciled, at least officially, to Hincapie's telling at least some of the truth about their days together. Noticeably absent, although not surprisingly, are any comments from Floyd Landis, Johan Bruyneel, or Tyler Hamilton, all of whom took different approaches to the outing of the truth.
Even his accounts of drug use are relatively lacking in drama. He, and others, realized at some point that they were losing out to lesser riders, that the difference was doping. After pragmatic considerations, he joined the dopers. No huge moment of truth, no Faustian moment. Just a pragmatic decision, almost as a matter of course.
But all of this adds up to a relatively flat, although overwhelmingly "nice", portrait of Hincapie and the events around him. It's all good stuff, in the sense that Hincapie really does seem to have been as well-respected and well-liked as we always took him to be. A few incidents do crack the "niceness", e.g., Chris Horner's interference in the tribute to Hincapie on the Champs Elysee during his final Tour de France, or the weird chase-down of Hincapie by Garmin that denied him a day in the Yellow Jersey in 2009. But they are presented as rare and nearly inexplicable.
If you can fault Hincapie as the author, it's for oddly reveling in his self-portrait as a humble man -- back to that basic irony at the bottom of the book.
Hincapie's racing career was marked by tremendous triumphs for those he helped, not just the tainted victories by Lance Armstrong, but enduring ones by Cadel Evans and others, and by near misses in his own favorite races, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
In sports terms, Hincapie is a rarity -- a true star but a star as a team player, someone who helps other members of his team attain glory, maybe the cycling equivalent of an offensive lineman in football.
He tells his story from childhood to his retirement from cycling. His deep appreciation for his family -- especially his father and brother and their contribution to his cycling career -- is genuine. Along the way, the mutual appreciation of teammates, managers, and friends is documented in contributions to the story, inserted into the text in the words of those teammates, managers and friends. Those perspectives add considerably to the story, something you don't always see in an autobiography but appropriate to someone who would rather someone else spoke for him.
Included among the perspectives are those of Lance Armstrong, now adopting a humbler pose and reconciled, at least officially, to Hincapie's telling at least some of the truth about their days together. Noticeably absent, although not surprisingly, are any comments from Floyd Landis, Johan Bruyneel, or Tyler Hamilton, all of whom took different approaches to the outing of the truth.
Even his accounts of drug use are relatively lacking in drama. He, and others, realized at some point that they were losing out to lesser riders, that the difference was doping. After pragmatic considerations, he joined the dopers. No huge moment of truth, no Faustian moment. Just a pragmatic decision, almost as a matter of course.
But all of this adds up to a relatively flat, although overwhelmingly "nice", portrait of Hincapie and the events around him. It's all good stuff, in the sense that Hincapie really does seem to have been as well-respected and well-liked as we always took him to be. A few incidents do crack the "niceness", e.g., Chris Horner's interference in the tribute to Hincapie on the Champs Elysee during his final Tour de France, or the weird chase-down of Hincapie by Garmin that denied him a day in the Yellow Jersey in 2009. But they are presented as rare and nearly inexplicable.
If you can fault Hincapie as the author, it's for oddly reveling in his self-portrait as a humble man -- back to that basic irony at the bottom of the book.
July 13, 2020
I um'd and ah'd about this rating for a while. As with any sports biography, cycling biographies are pretty much just page after page of 'I went really hard in this race and won it', 'I went really hard in this race and didn't win it', 'I fell off in this race', etc. And this is pretty much the same with this book: George rides really hard for Lance, George rides really hard for Cav, and George rides really hard for Cadel.
But this book should have been so much more. As the team captain for Lance Armstrong, and one of the riders who was made to testify to first the FBI and then USADA in their investigations he should have some detailed insights into the how the world of performance enhancing drug use operated and the impacts it has both on the individual and on the wider sport. Instead, while George seems like a really great guy, insight doesn't seem to be something he's big on.
He's more than happy to detail his own use of EPO and blood transfusions (and implies other stuff too), and this seems to be because he's still rationalising it to himself. He had to do this, he only took a little, he stopped before he was caught, he tried to talk some other guy out of doping himself. At no point does he recognise that he's a cheat, at no point does he recognise that all his results, and all the results of the riders he dragged to the finish line, are invalidated by his cheating, at no point does he recognise that training while on EPO allows him to train harder, which means even when he's stopped taking it - he's still benefiting (ie. cheating). Instead we get a constant refrain that he wanted to prove he could still keep up while clean and a constant reference to his professionalism from those riders he helped while cheating. Professionalism seems to therefore be code for 'willing to cheat to help me win'.
But this book should have been so much more. As the team captain for Lance Armstrong, and one of the riders who was made to testify to first the FBI and then USADA in their investigations he should have some detailed insights into the how the world of performance enhancing drug use operated and the impacts it has both on the individual and on the wider sport. Instead, while George seems like a really great guy, insight doesn't seem to be something he's big on.
He's more than happy to detail his own use of EPO and blood transfusions (and implies other stuff too), and this seems to be because he's still rationalising it to himself. He had to do this, he only took a little, he stopped before he was caught, he tried to talk some other guy out of doping himself. At no point does he recognise that he's a cheat, at no point does he recognise that all his results, and all the results of the riders he dragged to the finish line, are invalidated by his cheating, at no point does he recognise that training while on EPO allows him to train harder, which means even when he's stopped taking it - he's still benefiting (ie. cheating). Instead we get a constant refrain that he wanted to prove he could still keep up while clean and a constant reference to his professionalism from those riders he helped while cheating. Professionalism seems to therefore be code for 'willing to cheat to help me win'.
August 11, 2021
There's a lot to like about this book. His description of the PED pandemic during the Armstrong era clarified in an honest and unflinching way the climate of the times and the tough choices every rider had to make. The tone of the book seems to match Hincapie's laconic, but intense and focused, personality and his genuine regard for others. It is clear from the reactions of broadcasters and fellow cyclist's during his 17 Tours de France that he was respected and liked by nearly everyone in cycling. By the end of the book, I felt I knew George and his family, Lance, cycling, the tour, and the whole sport better than when I started.
Other reviewers complained that Hincapie didn't describe his emotions and feelings. I was moved, frustrated, frightened, elated, and depressed along with him throughout the book. His descriptions of Floyd Landis' cruel and eccentric mind games makes the reader cringe, and when Chris Horner stabbed George in the back at the end of his last tour, you see why Horner's petulant, spiteful, and unjust betrayal was a slap in the face of an honorable, respected, and deserving man at the climax of a great career.
Other reviewers complained that Hincapie didn't describe his emotions and feelings. I was moved, frustrated, frightened, elated, and depressed along with him throughout the book. His descriptions of Floyd Landis' cruel and eccentric mind games makes the reader cringe, and when Chris Horner stabbed George in the back at the end of his last tour, you see why Horner's petulant, spiteful, and unjust betrayal was a slap in the face of an honorable, respected, and deserving man at the climax of a great career.
April 11, 2020
I admired Big George when he was racing. This book confirmed for me what he was all about. In the broadcast of various races he participated in, the announcers always spoke of him in reverence.
The book is well written and an easy read. I think the book did a good job in helping us to get to know this man. He talks about his performance enhancing drug use in a matter of fact manner. I had assumed even then that he was using - cynical, I know. He does use the excuse that everybody did it, which is what most racers said when they explained their drug use. I do think it was pervasive and that the racers realty felt that if they wanted to be competitive, they had to do it. I don't condone what he/they did.
He was an influence for the good in the last 5-6 years he raced clean and working to rid the sport of drug use.
I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn about bicycle racing.
The book is well written and an easy read. I think the book did a good job in helping us to get to know this man. He talks about his performance enhancing drug use in a matter of fact manner. I had assumed even then that he was using - cynical, I know. He does use the excuse that everybody did it, which is what most racers said when they explained their drug use. I do think it was pervasive and that the racers realty felt that if they wanted to be competitive, they had to do it. I don't condone what he/they did.
He was an influence for the good in the last 5-6 years he raced clean and working to rid the sport of drug use.
I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn about bicycle racing.
August 16, 2017
I always admired Hincapie as a professional cyclist, didn't win many races, but always gave it his best. I didn't really enjoy the book though, in fact after I was about half way through I gave up. I thought it was written poorly, kinda dry and I didn't care for all the added quotes from family and acquaintances that seemed to just gush about how great George was. I was disappointed that he glossed over the issue of doping, saying that it was just something they had to do to be competitive. It didn't help that I had just finished reading Tyler Hamilton's book the "Secret Race" which exposed everything and was very well written.
August 4, 2017
I like to read a cycling book when the Tour de France is on TV each July. This was good, especially about the early days of Hincapie's career as an amateur and then a young professional. You can make your own judgment about the drug use and rationalizations. Some will forgive, some will not; they didn't spoil the book for me. Considering he rode for 9 champions (Lance 7x, Contador 1x, Cadel Evans 1x) and 17 full tours, it's an impressive resume and career.
August 12, 2017
George Hincapie was in 17 Tour de France races. That is incredible. Some he doped, while most he didn't. This is about the 5th or 6th book I have read about the cycling doping scandals and nothing much new was revealed. I still find it hilarious when the cyclists complain that they weren't treated fairly when they were busted for doping. Um, doping isn't fair. Try to act sorry so it is easier to forgive you.
February 4, 2021
Not the greatest of books, but he's not my favorite rider, either. Enjoyed reading about his story/background and his experience alongside Lance, and learned a few things about his riding (didn't realize how good he evidently was at working in/through the peleton). My biggest disappointment for George was never winning Paris-Roubioux...and that would have given him something to build his book around, but in the end, I just didn't feel the honesty I've gotten from others (Tyler).
July 3, 2017
I really enjoyed hearing from Big H years after the fact, as (you'd think) the true story can come out with nothing to lose.
First of all, it's not written in his voice at all. It's well-written and it's very interesting, it's just not what I expected to read.
2ndly, he downplays the doping culture so much, that it's just not believable.
I'm glad he and Lance remained friends, though.
First of all, it's not written in his voice at all. It's well-written and it's very interesting, it's just not what I expected to read.
2ndly, he downplays the doping culture so much, that it's just not believable.
I'm glad he and Lance remained friends, though.
August 31, 2018
Super read for people who love the sport of cycling
I was a fan of George for as long as he raced and so appreciative of his story. This book isn’t an apology but it is an explanation. I gave the book 4 stars instead of five because the writing isn’t exquisite. Wouldn’t expect it to be. I am very happy that he and Lance Armstrong are as close now as they ever were.
I was a fan of George for as long as he raced and so appreciative of his story. This book isn’t an apology but it is an explanation. I gave the book 4 stars instead of five because the writing isn’t exquisite. Wouldn’t expect it to be. I am very happy that he and Lance Armstrong are as close now as they ever were.
July 2, 2024
It's definitely an interesting book where Hincapie mostly tells about his years in the pro-peloton, doping & everything surrounding that and some other stuff. I would like to have seen a bit more about his youth.
This is an extra note for the digital copy. The layout of the book blended the quotes from other people in the story of Hincapie, which is very confusing and annoying to try to read it
This is an extra note for the digital copy. The layout of the book blended the quotes from other people in the story of Hincapie, which is very confusing and annoying to try to read it
July 11, 2024
Decent pro cyclist life story, from what you'd call a super-domestique perspective. I liked the general format that mixed in perspectives from other relevant people and that they stuck to a chronological order.
Much too much Lance for my taste though, which hey, should not have been a surprise. Perhaps add one star if you like the guy.
Much too much Lance for my taste though, which hey, should not have been a surprise. Perhaps add one star if you like the guy.
June 20, 2025
This is an OK cycling book. I did learn some things about tactics. The book also gave you a feel for what it’s like to be a pro rider. George was a strong rider, but he still bonked and crashed and had good days and bad days. Overall, I recommend this book. But I also feel like George minimized the amount of doping he did with Lance.
December 20, 2018
Intersting read and insight into one of the most consistant riders in history. An interesting reveal of his life and also asisting his teammate Lance Armstrong. Written afther the doping scandal so it has a realistic look on dopung also.
January 7, 2019
If you follow cycling this book is extremely interesting. I've always been a fan of George and now I respect him even more hearing the things he dealt with in his career and the manner in which he dealt with them.
August 21, 2019
Enjoyable read about a great cyclist
May 9, 2021
A bit of a different style as it brings in a lot of quotes of friends per the story, but was entertaining and enlighten about big Georges life.
March 11, 2022
Since I love cycling and watch the Tour every year this book resonated with me. Loved to hear George's journey and his dedication to the sport from his perspective.
June 26, 2023
Best cycling book
Easily the best cycling book I’ve read. Honest, personal and hugely informative on both cycling, racing and commitment. High recommended.
Easily the best cycling book I’ve read. Honest, personal and hugely informative on both cycling, racing and commitment. High recommended.
October 2, 2024
I’m a George super stan, if you’re into inside baseball it’s good!
Read
October 19, 2024I appreciate honesty but still saddens me as a whole portion of a sport I follow is unable to move forward from this shadow.
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