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George Hincapie

George Hincapie

Cycling
Hincapie Sportswear
Greenville, S.C.


George Hincapie says cycling has been in his life since he could walk. Perhaps it’s not surprising, then, that Hincapie has competed in every Summer Olympics since 1992, or that he has devised a way to keep cycling in his life long after he stops racing. Hincapie and his brother Rich are the owners of Hincapie Sportswear, a six-employee, $4 million maker of cycling apparel in Greenville, S.C. Hincapie sits in on interviews with new hires, meets with retailers, and goes to trade shows. He’s the chief product tester, too, wearing the gear through rain, intense heat, and crashes. “The Hincapie name is on the clothes. What better ad than me wearing it and riding?” he asks. Alas, it’s seldom that simple: “Sometimes, because of sponsorship agreements, I have to use someone else’s clothing and can’t be seen in my own.”