Horner Conquers Sierra Road and Takes Amgen Tour of California Lead
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5/18/11 - Team RadioShack’s Chris Horner claimed the first-ever mountaintop finish in the Amgen Tour of California. Horner rode away from the opposition to take the stage win on Sierra Road (San Jose). Putting his stamp on the race looked easy for Horner as he motored up the final 5.8km/3.6mi category 1 climb, putting more than one-minute into the rest of the field. Horner, 39, is no stranger to winning, but today’s victory was the first in this race for him and Team RadioShack. From the start the team of Alain Gallopin and Axel Merckx had a plan, using all team riders one-by-one to set the pace and wear down the opposition. The plan worked perfectly and Chris Horner now wears the golden leader’s jersey with 1:15 over teammate Levi Leipheimer. Three-time race champion Leipheimer was fourth on the stage, coming in with Andy Schleck (Leopard-Trek) and Rory Sutherland (UHC) at the top of Sierra Road.
Chris Horner arrives to the finish alone.
photo © Darrell Parks / darrellparks.com
“The idea was to blow this race apart and the team was fantastic today,” said Horner after the stage. “We rode Ben King, Markel Irizar and Haimar Zubeldia on the front to chase the early breakaway. Our guys rode hard every climb. Their job was to get to Mount Hamilton with the field completely wrecked. Then Jason McCartney had to drill from the bottom and destroy the field and Haimar was next to take over. We were left then with Levi Leipheimer, Dmitriy Muravyev, Matt Busche and me. That young guy Busche was really fantastic. Matt devastated the field on the last climb, to Sierra Road. At one point we had over 400 watts for 500 meters and that big hit exploded everyone. From then on, I just had to ride hard with Levi on my wheel and take the victory. Levi or me, it was not a question of who will jump first. In my whole career the first objective always has been that the team wins. The second objective of course you wish it to be you.”
These fans flew the flag of Flanders.
photo © Darrell Parks / darrellparks.com
Levi Leipheimer was happy with the Team result. “Chris was by far the best today and we have shown what a Team we are. This is all good for Team RadioShack.”
Horner added: “Levi is the three-time champion and without a doubt I was working for him but on the Sierra climb the legs were good. If you look at the tape you’ll see I always made room for Levi and he’s still the protected leader going into the time trial with him as a big favorite. There will be no holding back. I’ve got some good form and I can handle a time trial too. Maybe we’ll go 1-2.”
Team RadioShack will work to defend the race lead as the Amgen Tour of California heads south to warmer climes and hopefully dryer weather. Thursday’s 217.4km/135 mi road stage gives way to the important time trial in Solvang on Friday before a final day in the mountains with another uphill finish at southern California’s Mt. Baldy.
San Diego's Chris Horner rocked Sierra Road with a stage win and moved into the lead.
photo © Mitchell Clinton / clintonphoto.com
In the mean time Chris Horner enjoys wearing his yellow jersey. “I think in my career I’ve been underappreciated, certainly when you arrive here at the Tour of California. I found it quite insulting not to be invited to the press conference. I think I have been underrated many times in my 16 years as a professional rider. The last few years my form has been the best with the best in the world and with the exception of Alberto Contador I think there isn’t anybody who can drop me,” concluded Horner.
Results Stage 4: Livermore to San Jose (Sierra Road), 131.6km/82mi
1 Chris Horner (Team RadioShack) “/27:51; 2 Andy Schleck 01:15; 3 Rory Sutherland; 4 Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack); 5 Tom Danielson 01:22; 6 Christian Vandevelde 01:29; 7 Ryder Hesjedal 01:36; 8 Laurens Ten Dam 01:45; 9 Andrew Talansky 01:50; 10 Linus Gerdemann
Classification after Stage 4:
1 Chris Horner (Team RadioShack); 2 Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack) 1:15; 3 Tom Danielson 1:22; 4 Christian Vandecvelde 1:29; 5 Rory Sutherland 1:30; 6 Andy Schleck; 7 Ryder Hesjedal 1:36; 8 Linus Gerdemann 1:50; 9 Andrew Talansky; 10 Laurens Ten Dam 2:00
