Congratulations Chris Horner

[Unknown Soldier]

American Chris Horner will not only become the first American to win the demanding Vuelta a Espana, but even more impressively he will be the oldest ever rider to ever win one of cycling's three grand tours at 41 years of age, when the race finishes in Madrid today. This is an incredible achievement from a man right at the end of his career, in probably the most demanding sport on the planet. His three weeks in the race and battling much younger riders who are at the peak of their powers has been epic to watch.

[CoolBec]

Great to see another cycle racing fan around here US.

I was so thrilled to see Chris win a grand tour. There was a time when he was literally untouchable in US domestic racing, but for some reason didn't take any of the many offers he was getting to go racing in the big leagues in Europe. When he finally did go, I think he was a little past his prime at that point.

The fact that he can still win a grand tour at his age is a true testament to his talent. Good for you Chris...I'm a BIG fan!

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by CoolBec

Great to see another cycle racing fan around here US.

I was so thrilled to see Chris win a grand tour. There was a time when he was literally untouchable in US domestic racing, but for some reason didn't take any of the many offers he was getting to go racing in the big leagues in Europe. When he finally did go, I think he was a little past his prime at that point.

The fact that he can still win a grand tour at his age is a true testament to his talent. Good for you Chris...I'm a BIG fan!

He actually did go across to a European team in the 1990s but he didn't have much success and returned back to the USA to make his name there. But he sure left it too late to make the jump across to one the big European teams for a second time as a leader and when he did go across, it was more in the role of a luxury domestique with a certain amount of freedoms than as a true team leader. His whole honours list is full of top 10 finishes in stage races and the hilly one day classics, so the talent was always there. His biggest ever win before La Vuelta a Espana was the Tour of the Basque Country a few years ago, which is a very hard one week tour to win.

Chris has beaten Vincenzo Nibali probably the second best stage race rider in the world at the moment and that alone was fairly amazing in itself.

[CoolBec]

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

He actually did go across to a European team in the 1990s but he didn't have much success and returned back to the USA to make his name there. But he sure left it too late to make the jump across to one the big European teams for a second time as a leader and when he did go across, it was more in the role of a luxury domestique with a certain amount of freedoms than as a true team leader. His whole honours list is full of top 10 finishes in stage races and the hilly one day classics, so the talent was always there. His biggest ever win before La Vuelta a Espana was the Tour of the Basque Country a few years ago, which is a very hard one week tour to win.

Chris has beaten Vincenzo Nibali probably the second best stage race rider in the world at the moment and that alone was fairly amazing in itself.

Well, I'm 34 and didn't really get involved in the racing scene till the mid/late 90's. Wasn't really aware of his career prior to then. Thanks for the fill in.

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by CoolBec

Well, I'm 34 and didn't really get involved in the racing scene till the mid/late 90's. Wasn't really aware of his career prior to then. Thanks for the fill in.

Do you actually race yourself/hobby cyclist or are you just an armchair cycling fan?

[CoolBec]

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Do you actually race yourself/hobby cyclist or are you just an armchair cycling fan?

I did a little club racing in high school and college. Gave it up for a few years when I got pregnant and took it back up after the divorce. I'm just a recreational rider now though. My big goal now days is bragging rights at the annual club century. I still like to finish with the hammerheads.

How bout you?

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by CoolBec

I did a little club racing in high school and college. Gave it up for a few years when I got pregnant and took it back up after the divorce. I'm just a recreational rider now though. My big goal now days is bragging rights at the annual club century. I still like to finish with the hammerheads.

How bout you?

I only got interested in cycling in my twenties and luckily fell in with a group of fanatics who were obsessed with it and I used to go out on training rides weekly with them and amazingly in the space of a couple of years and a lot of suffering I got up to a really good level and I guess had I started a lot earlier, I could've been a really good amateur, because I had quite of a lot of natural ability on the bike.

These days I do mostly running and some biking but it's all for fun and fitness, but I try to watch every race I can on TV and follow the sport quite religiously.