May 22/11 20:54 pm - Tour of California: Stage 8 and Final GC

Posted by Editoress on 05/22/11
 

Chris Horner: “Next goal: A podium finish at the Tour de France”

After clearly dominating the Amgen Tour of California with the overall classification win on Sunday, Team RadioShack’s Chris Horner basks in the limelight of victory only briefly as he looks to future goals, namely a podium finish at this year’s Tour de France.  Horner, 39, a California resident, was not considered an early favorite by some, but the experience, determination and maturity of racing 16-years as a professional put him in the driver’s seat after an amazing stage win up Sierra Road on Wednesday’s stage 4.  With teammate Levi Leipheimer holding second place just behind him, Horner took the race leader’s jersey to wear it straight through to Thousand Oaks today.

“I was nostalgic all day,” commented Chris Horner. “I was having a grin from ear-to-ear.   I’ve done so much training up here on these roads, maybe going back as far as 1991.  I’ve really built my career training here.  This Southern California area has been my stomping grounds.  As soon as they added the summit finishes this race really became a goal for me.  I want to say that the crowds throughout California and on the summit finishes were epic.”

The victory in the Tour of California is Horner’s 18th overall victory in a professional stage race. Projecting ahead to July, Horner looks for his good form in California to carry him to loftier heights in July.

“To be clear, it’s very simple with this team,” said Chris Horner when asked if he will be considered the team leader come July.  “It’s very easy in the Tour to figure out who’s good and who’s not good.  It’s a difficult transition at this period between the Tour of California and the Tour to come in at 100% form.  Levi and I will have to do everything perfectly between now and then to make that happen.  It’s a very small window and it’s a time that if you do something wrong it will affect your form for sure at the Tour.  Make no mistake, with RadioShack this team is 100% dedicated to the rider who will perform at the Tour de France.  I have no problem working for Levi and you see he has no problem working for me.  We have a fantastic Jani Brajkovic that could shine really bright at the Tour de France.  And of course there is Andres Klöden   I expect to be with four guys who have a little bit of freedom and we will have five guys who will look after the four of us.  It will become very clear after the first mountain stage who is the leader. At this team we get along very well and everyone is there to support the best rider.”

Taking the mountaintop stage win yesterday on Mt. Baldy and completing the race in second place overall, teammate and three-time winner at the Amgen Tour of California, Levi Leipheimer had only praise for the efforts of Horner and the entire Team RadioShack.   “He’s been around for 16 years but he’s been even more professional in the last couple of years, especially with his diet and just everything.  You’re seeing the results of that.   I’ve had some health issues and the team needed a Plan B.  That turned out to be Chris. I think it was smart of the team.  But I am happy because I showed I could have won but my teammate was better.  There is no denying that.”

Asked how he sees the Tour de France shaping up, Leipheimer continued with, “That race puts you in your place.  We won’t have any responsibility at the Tour like we do here.  We have the responsibility to carry the Amgen Tour of California on our shoulders.  But at the Tour de France we don’t have that.  We’re the underdogs.  We don’t have an Andy Schleck or an Alberto Contador.    We can use that to our advantage.”

Strong teamwork was integral to ensure this week’s victory and both Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer were the first to acknowledge the dedication of the six teammates riding in support of them.  “I’ve been on other teams that dominate like this in the past,” said race winner Horner.  “At a race of this size and of this quality, plus the pressure we’ve been put under to win, we wanted the win. This has been a fantastic week.  The RadioShack team has been unbelievable.  We have a great squad and we’re going to have a very, very, very good time Sunday night here in Los Angeles. What makes this victory so sweet is that it happened on the birthday of team director Alain Gallopin. In the period when I raced for La Française des Jeux, I lived in his house. We have a long history together, and I see no time in the near future that I plan on retiring, even if my racing age is 40 now. I believe there are at least five good years of racing left in my legs.  And I don’t think I’ll stop anytime soon after that but I probably won’t be racing so much in Europe.”
Team RadioShack press release

HTC Highroad Finishes Amgen Tour Of California With Stage Win And Young Riders Jersey
Matt Goss finished off the Amgen Tour of California with a stage win on the streets of Westake Village on Sunday, with teammate Tejay Van Garderen also securing the best young riders jersey and fifth place overall.

"It's nice to finish off the tour with a win as well as Tejay taking the young riders jersey," said Goss. "The team worked really well and did a perfect leadout at the finish. Leigh [Howard] dropped me off at 180m to go and I had the easy part of just finishing it off. It's good to be able to repay all the hard work that the guys put it with a win."

Van Garderen came to California with big ambitions for his first race as team leader for the general classification.

"I'm happy but I'm not overly thrilled," said Van Garderen of his final GC placing. "I was expecting more of myself. But it's a good platform for improvement and it shows promise for the years the come.

"I'm happy that I was able to get up there and help out Gossy for the stage win. It was good teamwork today."
HTC Highroad  press release