Tour de France Legends
Tour de France legends George Hincapie, Bobby Julich, and Christian Vande Velde all call Greenville, South Carolina home. But before putting down roots here in the southeast, life for these three looked quite different.
You can fulfill your cycling dream of riding with the pros as George, Christian, and Bobby hop on Greenville B-Cycle bikes to cruise around the course! Join us on Thursday, April 25 at 5:15 PM to ride with them, or cheer them on from the sidelines.
George Hincapie
One of the most recognized professional cyclists in the world, 17-time Tour de France veteran and four-time Olympian George Hincapie, has been a fan favorite of American cycling enthusiasts for over a decade. A key domestique of Lance Armstrong, Alberto Contador, and Cadel Evans, George led a historic career with numerous accomplishments and contributions to the sport of cycling. In 2000, while on the hunt for good terrain to fit his training regimen, George discovered Greenville, South Carolina on a visit to see his brother Rich, who had already relocated to the area from New York. Realizing that the roads, climbs, and numerous cycling routes mimicked the terrain where he raced in Europe, he relocated to Greenville with his wife and growing family.
Bobby Julich
American professional cyclist and Tour de France racer Bobby Julich also settled here in Greenville, South Carolina after an exciting and rewarding career as a professional cyclist in Europe. Julich is a Silver Olympic medalist in the Induvial Time Trial and has ample career experience as a Technical Director and a Team Head Coach for various professional cycling teams. Julich grew up in the mountains of Colorado but ultimately settled in Greenville due in part to the legitimate climbing in the area and the quality of life that he and his family have found here.
Christian Vande Velde
Christian Vande Velde, the son of United States Bicycling Hall of Fame inductee John Vande Velde, is a two-time Olympian who retired from professional cycling in 2013. Christian turned professional in 1998 for US Postal after many successful years on the track, where he won five national championships and the World Cup overall in the Individual Pursuit in 1997. He twice rode on the victorious Tour de France team (1999 and 2001) and finished 7th in the 2009 Tour de France. From professional cyclist to team leader to now a cycling analyst for NBC Sports, Christian has led an exciting and accomplished professional and racing career. One of the best parts about moving with his family to Greenville is that even within the city, there are great cycling routes and good climbs, like Paris Mountain, that one can do in a short amount of time while also getting a good workout in. Christian enjoys Downtown Greenville's centrality and how easy it is to get around the city via bike or car.