Christopher Horner

Key results

1st Vuelta a España, 2013
1st Tour of California, 2011
1st Vuelta a País Vasco, 2010 & 1st Stage 6
1st USA National Racing Calendar, 2002-04
2nd Vuelta a País Vasco, 2011
4th Volta a Catalunya 2011

Looking ahead to 2012

As the reigning champion of the Tour of California, Chris Horner (RadioShack Nissan) is likely to be defending his title, before racing the Tour de France in support of the Schlecks, and looking for opportunities in his own right.

2011

2011 was a mixed year for Chris Horner. He started well, coming fourth overall in the Volta a Catalunya, then second place in the Vuelta a País Vasco, before heading out to ride the Tour of California. He won the fourth stage, which put him into the leader’s jersey, which he retained to the end, winning the biggest race of his career.

It all looked like it was going well, and Horner started the Tour de France as one of RadioShack’s four official team leaders – but a huge crash on Stage Seven put an end to his hopes. He lost consciousness, and controversially was allowed to ride 32km to the end of the stage, where he was diagnosed with concussion, a fractured rib, broken nose and injuries to his leg and ankle that were later revealed to be a torn tendon. He had hoped to be back on the bike for the late-season races, but in August he was diagnosed with a blood clot on his lung, another result of the Tour crash, and his season came to an abrupt end.

1st Tour of California
1st Stage 6 Tour of California
2ndVuelta a País Vasco
4th Volta a Catalunya

2010

A break-through year for the then 38-year-old rider, who, given the chance to ride for himself rather than in support of team-mates, found strong Classics form, achieved a top ten placing in the Tour de France andwon his first European stage race.

1stVuelta a País Vasco
1st Stage 6 TTT Vuelta a País Vasco
4th Tour of California
7thFlècheWallonne
8thLiège-Bastogne-Liège
10th Tour de France
10thAmstel Gold

2009

This wasn’t Horner’s favourite year - after planning to ride the Tour de France in support of Lance Armstrong, he wasn’t picked for the team, and his public comments about this fuelled suspicions of internal divisions within Astana.

2nd Tour de l’Ain

2008

7th Giro diLombardia

2007

5th Tour de Romandie