December 29, 2005 – Discovery Channel’s George Hincapie has been named South Carolina’s Professional Athlete of the Year for 2005. This is big news for South Carolina and represents the growth of cycling in the states. Cycling has gone from a fringe sport in the back of people’s mind, to one which has a huge following. Hincapie – winner of stage 15 of the Tour de France this year, has also been touted recently as being the team leader for the 2006 Tour.

As reported in South Carolina’s The State newspaper, “When Armstrong claimed his record seventh consecutive Tour de France title in July, Hincapie was there, just as he was for the first six. His job for the Discovery Channel team was to clear the road for Armstrong. In the arduous sport of team cycling, he was the equivalent of – for the benefit of his Upstate neighbors – a pulling guard or blocking back.”

But things worked out differently for Hincapie – as he followed an early break on a tough mountain stage, and ended up taking the win: His first victory in the Tour, and in the long hills of France.