Rider’s desire to defend title said to be crucial to need to look for different team
After yesterday being rebuked by Chris Horner’s representative Baden Cooke for what he said was a ‘cheap tactic’ in announcing a deal was close to being done with the rider, the Christina Watches team has conceded that the American will not be racing with the team this year.
The Danish Continental squad has issued a communication indicating that the negotiations had “failed, despite our best efforts.”
The reason it gave was that because of its Continental status, it will be unable to be considered for any three week races in 2014.
“Without having a Grand Tour in our race program it was always going to be a difficult decision for Chris to make,” it said. “We fully understand his decision and hope he can find a sponsor who can support his wish to defend his Vuelta title.
It released an email it said it received late last night from Cooke, who has been acting as an intermediary between Horner and interested teams despite not yet being a UCI-approved agent.
“I thank you all for your hard work on putting together your best possible deal for Chris,” the team reported Cooke as stating. “We explored this option seriously and with the best intentions. Chris however has decided that he will not take you up on the offer. His desire to defend the Vuelta title being the main reason.”
Spanish media site Ciclo21 has reported that Horner is in talks with the Spanish Pro Continental squad Caja Rural – Seguros RGA team, with the US franchise of the Vivelo bikes the team uses reportedly prepared to pay his salary in return for the increased sales it expects to reap.
The team is the second biggest in Spain and has been given a wildcard to the past two editions of the Vuelta a España. It is virtually certain to be part of the race once again this year, thus potentially affording him the chance to defend his Vuelta title.
In addition to that, it is aiming to secure an invite to the Giro d’Italia. It is one of eight teams in the running for three places, with a decision on that allocation expected to come this week.