longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 11/24/2014 01:30 PM |
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Cyclingnews reports he'll ride for a US based team, but doesn't name the team. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/horner-signs-one-year-deal-with-us-team |
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Master50
Posts:340
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| 11/24/2014 07:39 PM |
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This sucks. Man is there another guy who has had a harder time getting any legitimacy? Suspected of doping because of his age and good results? never seemed to catch a break with his career. seemed too good for domestic racing but did not as well in Euro land?
I have followed his career since the early 00s and he was so talented but never seemed to fit the particular mould. too good for domestic and too clean for Europe? Now it is the opposite too dirty for europe? |
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bobswire
Posts:304
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| 11/25/2014 01:30 PM |
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Posted By Mike Shea on 11/24/2014 07:39 PM
This sucks. Man is there another guy who has had a harder time getting any legitimacy? Suspected of doping because of his age and good results? never seemed to catch a break with his career. seemed too good for domestic racing but did not as well in Euro land?
I have followed his career since the early 00s and he was so talented but never seemed to fit the particular mould. too good for domestic and too clean for Europe? Now it is the opposite too dirty for europe?
Too dirty for Europe?
There is a black cloud over American cyclists,especially those of epo era. You can lay some of that on LA but I prefer to put most of it on USADA and it's aggressive tactics in going after LA and damn the collateral damage. The Euro teams basically received a bye while most if not all Americans were found guilty (rightly or wrongly) who rode during the EPO period. Cycling was dirty to its core and ALL professional teams participated if they wanted to Podium. Doping started way before LA and continues to this day after his downfall. Has it been worth taking down LA? Cycling has a whole has since suffered with less sponsors willing to come forward thus less teams and rides for talented riders like Horner.
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ChinookPass
Posts:809
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| 11/25/2014 03:57 PM |
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My thinking is he is not on the good side of Trek or Specialized. Otherwise they would shoehorn him into a Euro team somewhere. He's fairly popular among fans and after all he was the highest placed rider on Lampre in the Tour last year despite being left for dead in a tunnel in Italy only 2 months prior.
The funny thing about Horner is he has ridden for the some of the most notorious managers in the sport but has never heard of doping on those teams. We can paint him with whatever brush we like: hard-working, tactically smart, gifted, naive, stupid, a liar. All those labels fit.
He's an entertainer who just loves to race his bike. |
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jmdirt
Posts:775
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| 11/25/2014 06:36 PM |
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CP, I've never heard him say that he didn't know about doping within his teams. He certainly danced around the question/answer but didn't say he was unaware of doping. Some of his dancing was to keep his job, ie: when asked about LA and JB before they got "convicted", that's smart (his "LA passed all of the tests so he's still the winner" sounds bad but about survival). Plus, the only riders who openly talk about doping either ride for Slipstream, or don't ride for anyone anymore. To use a cliche, I don't think that he was part of the problem, but he wasn't part of the solution either (self preservation).
Of course I don't really know anything, but because of a few mutual friends I have socialized with CH several times over the last 20 years and he is such a genuinely cool guy that I want to believe in him. I know that most of the people who know TH said the same thing, but I'm sticking with it. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 11/25/2014 07:00 PM |
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"Euro teams basically received a bye while most if not all Americans were found guilty (rightly or wrongly) who rode during the EPO period."
Really? In my recollection quite a few Euro teams have seen their demise on this. The Americans were particularly nasty in prosecuting their own, but that's another matter.
But doping is only a side-story in Horner's career development; i am not sure why this thread got sidetracked in that direction.
Simply put for an American to make it in Europe they need to be able to offer something special that Euro teams cannot get from Euro riders.
Lemond made sense because the dual with Hinault was a great story for cycling.
LA was embraced because the cancer story made great headlines and help sell cycling.
Leipheimer on Rabo made sense because Rabo had plans to expand in US market; same reason they sponsored ToC.
Perhaps Horner simply did not have anything extra to offer other than being a nice guy (which does not sell) who could ride fast (of which there are many).
As it stands, Airgas-Safeway sounds like a slowly deflating tire of a career change unless he sees it as a mentorship role and first step to DS. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 11/26/2014 10:53 AM |
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Leaving aside the massive cloud of suspicion associated with Rider #15.....errr, Horner, here is the reality:
* the guy is 43 years old
* he has a massive and consistent history of bad luck
* He wanted a big salary from a euro team
Just based on those 3 points, I'd be hard pressed to sign him. Too much investment coupled with too much risk on an old rider. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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zootracer
Posts:835
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| 11/26/2014 11:33 AM |
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| At age 43 his career is winding down for sure....always exciting to watch though... |
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Yo Mike
Posts:338
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| 11/26/2014 01:10 PM |
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| Horner should line up companies to produce and distribute his new line of designer bicycling gloves, and put out feelers for positions 'in the booth' to do cycling commentary. |
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ChinookPass
Posts:809
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| 11/26/2014 01:24 PM |
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sheer gloves, with a change pocket for the McDonald's drive-thru.
The thing I can't get past with regards to Horner's value to a sponsor: Evan Huffman was placed on Astana, I assume, by Specialized. It was an ill-fitting match, he was totally thrown in among the wolves. Probably returned zero value to the Specialized or Astana. Yet Horner always gets press. Everything he does gets written up on the cycling new sites. He probably asked for too much $$ but it's always hard to imagine that some pro tour team does not have a place for an American to race the US stage races and maybe some of the lesser week-long Euro races.
Maybe we'll see more of this in the coming year.
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vtguy
Posts:298
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| 11/28/2014 12:06 PM |
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| I agree that his inability to land a contract is primarily about age and salary demands. I've always enjoyed watching him race and reading or listening to his interviews. Hopefully, he'll take a job behind the microphone in the next couple of years. |
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Hoshie
Posts:134
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| 12/02/2014 11:47 PM |
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Yep, I think it's as simple as the fact that it is late in his career, expense plus recent history of injury make him a tough bet to make in a shrinking Euro pro roster and budget(s).
I wish him the best - it's a great way for him to enjoy his last year or two, make a little dough, and coach some young guys plus get some results on some climbing days or shorter tough stage races. Plus, the domestic mags will cover this team quite well. Bigger fish, smaller pond yada yada.
j |
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jmdirt
Posts:775
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| 12/05/2014 08:32 AM |
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| Phil the Thrill's take: "We haven't had a lot of time to do the how-to-beat-Chris-Horner math, but frankly, I plan to kick his ass every time he tries,” said Phil Gaimon..." |
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Gonzo Cyclist
Posts:568
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| 12/08/2014 07:13 PM |
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yeah, read that jmdirt, some of the domestic teams are kind of worried, this guy can climb with the best in the world, but in that article, they also stated it will be good because they will have to up their game.
Yup , too old, and wants too much money, but the guy is a grand tour winner, smart move to bring him on to educate the younger and upcoming riders |
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