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G E XQ U I S I T E H OT E L S Riding Comfortably HOTEL DOMESTIQUE 10 ROAD OF THE VINES TRAVELERS REST, SOUTH CAROLINA 29690 864-400-3041 Vineyard and mountain views prevail from the rooms and common areas at Hotel Domestique. TRAVELERS REST, SOUTH CAROLINA // BY Jack Bacot HOTELDOMESTIQUE.COM George Hincapie recently retired from the grueling world of professional cycling to open a hotel. He has ridden in hundreds of races including an unprecedented seventeen times in the Tour de France and was a member of the winning team nine times. He was an integral member of the race team–known simply as the "domestique," or the team member whose job it was to push the team to the next level. He was Lance Armstrong's key strategist, riding for position and to set the team up for victory. Hincapie was also a domestique for Alberto Contador in 2007 and for Cadel Evans in 2011, when both men won the Tour de France. When he parked his bicycle, he and his brother, Rich, picked up a charming but abandoned inn and transformed the property The design is clean and classic, with a nod to French style. The library is a quiet area for reading and relaxing. 114 into a stunning luxury boutique hotel in the unlikely location of Travelers Rest, South Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. While this is a new venture for the Hincapie brothers, they relish the role of providing exceptional service with the competitive goal to take this property to the next level. The aptly named Hotel Domestique opens this summer with the intent to redefne legendary service and style. The hotel is full of exquisite and exceptional details. Built in 1990 to emulate a villa in Provence, France, the interior includes a 1932 staircase constructed of granite while its exterior features red roofng tiles from Tulane University's original administration building. Located on 29 acres, the property set aside several acres for a vineyard with new grapes to be planted in the spring of 2014. This is Old World style mixed with new world amenities. There are thirteen oversized rooms and two suites with mountain or vineyard views. Amenities include an outdoor pizza oven, a new 25-meter pool, a beautiful Tempus-Magazine.com . Summer 2013 piazza, outdoor bar, and a 160seat Mediterranean themed restaurant boasting a healthy menu featuring farm-to-table items from local merchants. Hotel Domestique has a private helipad on the property for easy access. But it caters to those in search of physical challenge, as well. The hotel boasts a custom storage area for bicycles, along with a mechanic to keep all bicycles in top shape. George Hincapie has trained in this part of the South for ffteen years and helped the region earn a reputation as a progressive cycling community. There is a vast network of roads with different terrains and light traffc–perfect for safe cycling around the hotel property. As a result, the hotel will cater to the high-end athlete, including cyclists, triathletes, and runners. To assist serious cyclists intent on staying ft during their stay, the hotel offers preset bike routes with various terrain options and Garmin GPS system for guidance. There will be opportunities to train and ride with George Hincapie during your stay. The hotel also offers cycling camps and events for children, women, beginners, and professional cyclists throughout the year. "Cycling is a small component of what we do," Rich Hincapie says. "For the most part, we're a hotel open to the general public and a luxury getaway destination whether you're a cyclist or not."