TommyBing

I really have little understanding of the mechanism, but in gene doping, there is correlation with RR activity and somatic cell modification over the short term. In the literature there is a lot of information on long term ratios of RR to other enzymes within specific-type cells. It's a different field and a different pay grade than me, however, so I'm not going to spout off and try to explain it.

But I have colleagues that tell me gene doping is the next frontier and we're almost assuredly already there.

jyl

https://m.cyclingnews.com/news/chris-...m-not-rider-15

It seems likely that he'll have to race on a Pro Conti type team in 2014, which is really a huge shame. I sure would be interested to know what Trek was willing to pay him. I wonder if their offer was just silly low, or if Horner was just too stubbornly high.

totalnewbie

does this mean we have seen the last of horner in a grand tour? how can a pro conti team make it into a grand tour?

merlinextraligh

His point in the Cycling News interview has some appeal. The suspicious thing to most people is Horner getting the best results of his life at an advanced age.

Horner really turns this argument around by saying he has gotten better results as time has gone because the testing has gotten better, and less of the peleton is doped.

Could be some merit to that.

MinnMan

I don't see where this is indicated in the interview. Is it elsewhere or should I be reading between the lines? Or maybe given that it's already November, it's a fait accompli?

MinnMan

It's hard to believe a guy could go from winning the Vuelta one year down to a Conti team the next. You'd think that the lowliest domestique roll on a competitive team would be preferable.

Probably he'd be better off retiring and buliding his post-racing career, rather than racing in near-anonymity. What would be the point? Go out on a high note.

Zinger

OK

I'll have to consider that. That seems a fair argument.

Zinger

VeloNews
Chris Horner talking with Christina Watches

excerpted in part:

Horner’s agent approached Christina Watches about joining the Denmark-registered, third-division professional team for this season.

Christina Watches CEO Claus Hembo said they would need to find an additional sponsor before signing the Vuelta a España winner.

“It’s a dialogue that’s been going on for a few days and I expressed that we are interested,” Hembo told BT. “We currently don’t have the money to sign him. It would require a new sponsor worth 1.5 million [Danish krone, about $275,000). That’s not to say that would be his salary, but that’s how much we’d need.”

(snip)

The team was created in 2011 as a comeback vehicle for Michael Rasmussen, the Danish climber who was kicked out of the 2007 Tour de France just days from arriving in Paris. Now 39, Rasmussen later served a two-year ban, and, earlier this year, admitted that he doped throughout most of his professional racing career.

The team won a handful of races in minor races in Asia, Africa, and Europe. It’s never participated in a grand tour.

For 2014, the team has 11 confirmed riders on the roster, including Stefan Schumacher, who was banned for EPO in 2008.

(end of excerpts)

Hmmm

Wesley36

ftfy

jyl

I'm hoping Horner goes to Tinkov-Saxo to replace Michael Rogers when the latter is terminated for his clenbuterol positive. Horner could be a great mountain domestique for Contador in the TdF and, as far as I know, the team has no other serious GC contender so unless Contador plans to race all three GTs, Horner could have his shot at one. But Contador seems to like Spanish teammates so someone like Samuel Sanchez might have a better shot.

Christina Watches - ugh. I'd rather see Horner at a US Continental team, delighting his US fans.l and racing the Tour de California, Tour of Colorado, etc. I'm really surprised none of those teams has picked him up.

Ksyrium

I'm a marketing director for my company and and while I don't claim to be an expert on the bicycle market I think he would be a great person to endorse a product line targeted at riders with cash(older) who follow the sport. IMO a bicycle brand sponsoring a team could really benefit from having on the team as a rider. Specialized, Trek, Pinarello, Cannondale all market bikes designed for rough roads(Roubaix,Kobh, Domane) that would be perfect for older riders.

A team with a marquis GC rider(Froome, Contador, Nibali, Scheck) could sign him for a year to lead a Giro or Vuelta that their stars wouldn't be focused on anyway because they are aiming for the tour. He could even ride support for them at the tour as a super domestique.

If I was a brand manager for a company sponsoring a team I'd want him signed and I'd put a campaign around him. If cycling is truly the "new golf" then there are alot of 40-50 something wannabes with money to spend on expensive bike equipment that could relate to Chris Horner.

jyl

Reports say he has replaced his manager/agent with Baden Cooke.

I will be pretty bummed if we've seen the last of Chris Horner in top level racing.

I hope he is working on a book. He's had a long career during an interesting time in cycling.

MinnMan

https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2014/...vuelta.html?hp

MinnMan

https://www.velonation.com/News/ID/16...-is-close.aspx

A new agent, more chatter, still no contract.

MinnMan

Christina Watches is out, Caja Rural and a possible shot at defending at the Vuelta is the newest meme...

https://velonews.competitor.com/2014/...-horner_313167

This might be the best he can hope for at this point. I hope they sign him.

MinnMan

And while many of us are paying attention to the odd spectacle of having an unsigned GT champion, it's also true that another respected GC contender, Sammy Sanchez, remains without a contract.

https://www.velonation.com/News/ID/16...his-point.aspx

MUZE

Velo News reports that a source has stated that Horner will sign with Lampre-Merida. He will be available for the Giro and Vuelta with their World Champion, Rue Costa doing the Tour.

Zinger

Yep

VeloNews
Horner linked to Lampre-Merida for 2014

But I'm not sure if it's quite a done deal just yet.

canam73

For some reason Horner on Lampre will be a tough one for me to square away in my head. But I do hope hope it works out for everyone involved.

jyl

The Lampre talk is growing louder, with the team's manager acknowledging the attempt to contract with Horner. Fingers crossed.

jyl

Horner has signed a 1 year contract with Lampre.

The report says he will lead the team at the Giro and Vuelta.

Who rides for Lampre - think they'll be able to put a good team around him?

https://m.cyclingnews.com/news/horner...-lampre-merida

thechemist

umm they have rui costa! I think it will be a decent team and I love their colors/bikes etc. would be nice to see them in the spotlight. I would like to see horner put on a good show this year and be competitive just to stick to it trek but I think it is a BIG ask for Lampre having him compete in both the giro and vuelta.

MinnMan

I'm relieved that he's signed and happy he will be riding in GTs again this year.

The Giro ends on June 1 and the Vuelta doesn't begin until the end of August. Nearly 3 months should be enough time to recover and to rebuild fitness. Also, others have competed strongly in both (e.g. Nibali last year). Maybe it will be tougher do do so for an older rider, though

Rui Costa is a strong rider, but he'll be riding in the TdF, so probably won't be in the Giro or Vuelta to support Horner. Or maybe he will, at least in one of those?

jyl

I read some more, sounds like the plan is for him to captain and mentor younger Lampre GC contendors at the Giro, not necessarily to go for GC himself there. He'd likely skip the Tour where the team will ride for Rui Costa. Then he'd ride the Vuelta to defend his '13 win.

If that does turn out to be the plan, it sounds sensible. Horner is 42 y/o, got to think he is better off picking his races instead of beating his legs up racing 90 days. Especially if he has to go up against Quintana in the Vuelta . . .

Does Lampre ride any of the US races? They are not on the list for the 2014 Tour of California. I hope Horner has a chance to ride in front of his domestic fans this year.

I'm speculating Costa will skip the Vuelta and save himself for the Worlds which will be late September in Spain. But who knows.

Zinger

Sounds like a plan to me. I wonder if he's getting the kind of money that he wants.

Doesn't look like it. I think he's the only American on his team. I'll bet they don't race stateside.

And except for possibly the Vuelta, I'll bet it's not going to be a Horner show.