Rider Diary: George Hincapie Readies for Flanders and Paris-Roubaix 2009
Posted 3rd April 2009
As told to James Startt

I just got off the plane in Brussels. I'm about ready to begin what is the biggest week of the year for me with the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix classics coming back to back.

In previous years, I've come to Belgium a week earlier and raced the Three Days of La Panne, which is a big warm-up race, but I opted not to do it this year. It just gets more dangerous every year and with my experience I feel fine going into Flanders without it. Plus, it was good to be home in Gerona for an extra five days, although ironically, the weather was actually worse down south.

These races have always been suited to my style of my riding. Riding the cobbles, there is always a fine line between fighting for position and wasting too much energy. From my very first years of racing, I've been able to handle these sections. A lot of guys get really tense just before every cobble section, but staying relaxed is key. That can't be taught-it's instinct.

Compared to the Tour de France, Flanders and Roubaix are so different. They are intense and you have to remain very focused for six or seven hours of racing. There are stages at the Tour in which you really have to concentrate, but you are never on the small little roads like in Flanders and Roubaix.

Some guys think that Flanders is the hardest race in the world. For me Roubaix and Flanders are equally difficult. In Roubaix your body takes more of a beating, and the last 70 to 80 kilometers of Flanders are just so brutal. The climbs are relentless.

Like every year, Quickstep is the team to beat. They are the local favorites. There are a lot of other teams up there, like Rabobank and Cervelo. Columbia-High Road, my team, is strong too.

To win here on Sunday, you need to have the right combination of focus, endurance, power and tactical smarts. It's never easy and it is never predictable.

As I said, this is the start of the most important week of the year for me. There aren't many races where I get nervous before the start, but I sure do before Flanders and Roubaix. I feel good going into the races, though. I've done everything correctly, so now I just need a little luck.