I think Johan should have thought of making Chris Honer the number 1 protected rider for the Tour…
He has worked for Lance, Levi, Andreas to bring up bottles from the team car, bring Lance back from a crash and basically be the super-domestique…
Also when Lance finally decided to let Horner go on his own after blowing on stage 8 after the fall Horner had to chase all the way up the climb to finish with some sort of descent result after having to Red-line all the way up to the finish!!
Then today he pulls off a super ride to finish 8th on the finish today 1:45 back… I wonder if he had been a protected rider he probably could finished in the top 5 in Paris.
As you can tell I am a big fan of Horner and wonder when someone will give this guy his due and let him rip one of these Grand tours and be the No.1 on the team…
I remember no to long ago Horner would show up for Domestic races and would just shred the legs off of everybody and talk trash afer the race…
Keep KICKING ASS Chris, maybe that Bozo- Johan will stop kissing Ass and let u go for it!!
It wasnt going to happen with Lance there. Horner knew it, Kloden knew it, Levi knew it. Lance is alpha dog on that team and was going to be the team leader no matter how bad/good form he showed pre Tour (I think he improved at the right time leading into the Tour).
What this shows me is just far Schleck/Contador are above the rest of the peloton. Here we have Horner a super domestique where you have stated all the duties he has done, and now he has ridden to a top 10 overall. That tells me there isnt a whole lot of consistency with the rest of the top guys in the peloton. Edit: It’s pretty much a Schleck vs Contador show.
His interviews with Velonews about Lance had emotions that I dont think people see much in cycling. The guy is a great teammate to have, and will do what it takes to be there for the guys.
Yes, Horner rides with alot of emotion and talks the talk and walks the walk…
I love when they ask him all the tactics of the race and he pretty much says this should happen and pretty much it does happen… He really knows how to read a race and I think he is such a valuable asset to the team just as Jens Voight is to Saxo Bank…
Im also a huge fan of Jens Voight…
I wonder if he had been a protected rider he probably could finished in the top 5 in Paris.
I don’t think so. He is a good allround guy, and works very hard. But he is not a top 5 kind of guy.
there have been many riders in the past that have been in Lance’s team who could have been “contenders” in their own team.
I wonder if he had been a protected rider he probably could finished in the top 5 in Paris.
I don’t think so. He is a good allround guy, and works very hard. But he is not a top 5 kind of guy.
Then again, neither is Armstrong. I figured he’d flame out. I was surprised how well he did in Switzerland, but you didn’t have the same field there as in France. As a 41 year old, there’s only so long you can keep Father Time away from you. Time caught up with LA. Even if he had not crashed repeatedly I doubt he would have been top 10.
But Horner, the dude is just awesome. Remember a couple of years ago - http://gritandglimmer.com/chris-horner-gives-fallen-rider-and-bike-a-2k-ride-to-the-finish/ ?
I think Horner can win the tour next year.
I think Lance and Horner are about the same age.
Chris Horner is a class rider and has been for some time. For some reason he’s never quite broken to the upper-crust of U.S. riders who are given race leader responsibility for the team in the big races.
He could ride a very good result at the TdF…but it is correct that he is quite old (nearly Armstrong’s age). I doubt he can bring the race to the Schlecks and Contador at this point.
I’m really glad to see him hit the top-10 this year. He can TT well enough to hold that position, and maybe even top Kreutziger.
I think Lance and Horner are about the same age.
You are correct. Chris was born October 23, 1971. So he is 38 right now. Lance was born September 18, 1971.
I think he loves his current job and so does Kloedi.
Horner is having a great race. Not only is he in 10th place, he is within 79 seconds of being in a tie for top North American at the Tour.
Go Ryder.
Horner seems like a great guy and I’d love for him to contend for the podium in Paris. However, his love for cheeseburgers and fries will hold him back.
Not after tomorrow…
Now that’s just some funny stuff there…
i admire jens as well…esp. after his crash during stage 16. chris and jens both share a passion for the sport and are obviously not misguided by fame, popularity, or money. the only thing that endures for jens and chris is character.
That guy on his bike is an Olympic medalist in the nordic combined from Steamboat.
I take it you are expecting Horner to lose more time to Hesjedal than he did in the prologue. 
It’s like you guys all forgot that he made up all of his time in a breakaway…Without that extra time he would be 5+ minutes back
.
Correction: OLYMPIC GOLD and SILVER medalist, Mr. Badass Demong.
I was at the Giro last year, and before he crashed out, Horner was in 8th on the GC. I was super disappointed to miss seeing him ride. Yes, I KNOW the Giro is not as hard as the TDF, but he’s a Grand Tour top 10 guy without a doubt.
And I once nearly ran Horner over while skating at Mt. Bachelor a few years ago. Um, sorry about that dude, but you were in a blind corner goin wayyy to slow