Tour de France
Tour snapshot: Postal cyclist finds love on the podium

By Mark Akins
Seattle Times staff

George Hincapie's fiancée was fired.

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Standing on the podium, even for a day, is a dream come true for Tour de France bicyclists. In George Hincapie's case, he met the girl of his dreams there.

The U.S. Postal Service rider from Greenville, S.C., was on the podium to receive the traditional stuffed toy lion from the "podium girls" at the start of last year's Tour when 23-year-old Melanie Simonneau of Dijon caught his eye.

Podium girls, who plant courtesy kisses on the cheeks of the sometimes stubble-faced riders, typically are professional models and typically are beautiful.

"When I first saw her I thought, 'Wow, she's beautiful!' I needed to talk to her or find her phone number," Hincapie said, according to The Associated Press.

He wrote Simonneau a note and handed it to one of her bosses, who delivered it the next day. Soon, they began dating — violating the nonfraternization rule by Credit Lyonnais bank, the longtime Tour sponsor.

"When the two were caught kissing without any toy lions in sight," wrote Bonnie DeSimone of the Chicago Tribune, "Simonneau was fired. She kept Hincapie, however."

The two are engaged and expect a daughter in November.

Mark Akins: 206-464-8994 or makins@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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