ESPN.com - MORESPORTS/TDF00 - Hincapie Diary No. 14

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	Training Room

Thursday, July 20
A casual 155-mile ride

By George Hincapie
Special to ABC Sports Online

Greenville, S.C.'s George Hincapie rides for the United States Postal Service team, and played an integral part in Lance Armstrong's victory in the Tour de France in 1999. He is a two-time winner of the World Road Cycling Championship, and was ranked 50th in the world last year. Throughout the Tour de France, Hincapie is sharing his experience through the eyes of a key member of the defending championship team.

FREIBURG, Germany -- Everybody is extremely tired.

On Thursday, we got pretty lucky because, when the breakaway went off the first rider was 40 minutes down, so we weren't too concerned about it.

When the breakaway got to be 25 minutes we were still OK with it, but some of the guys that were in 10th, ninth, eighth overall, they started getting a little nervous because this guy was getting a 25-30 minute gap all of a sudden.


	The U.S. Postal team is the only team left in the Tour with all of its riders heading in to the final stages.

So four teams ended up putting two of their riders up front to chase them down, so we didn't have to do any work today, which was like heaven to us. We were ready to do it, but we kept our cool and didn't have to do anything, which was great.

It was nice to be able to sit on the wheel for once.

As much as a 250-kilometer day can be casual, it was today. We just stayed by Lance. There was also a headwind, so it was easier to sit on the wheel. We really had a good day.

On a day like today, the major competitors wouldn't do anything. We still have nine guys riding, and everybody is fully aware of that. So, as far as a team is concerned, we are still very strong. The big rivals wouldn't take that chance.

Tomorrow is going to be exciting to see who ends up winning. Lance has shown that he is the strongest, while Jan Ullrich is going to want to win with the time trial in Germany, his home country. There's going to be a lot of pressure on him. For Lance, if he wins, it's just an added bonus. But he wants to win it, that's for sure.

I am going to put my money on Lance.

I will take it easy tomorrow, try to conserve as much energy as possible. There's no reason for me to go hard. We still have a long day Saturday.

Find out about George Hincapie's "Tour de Caf�," a line of specialty-roasted coffees with proceeds benefiting the Lance Armstrong Foundation on his web site at www.hincapie.com/2000tdf.html.

ALSO SEE
Armstrong three days from second Tour victory

Germany celebrates Tour's return

Notes from Freiburg

Hincapie Diary No. 13

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Hincapie Diary No. 10