Saturday, July 12th, 2008...4:20 pm
Chris Horner Gives Fallen Rider (and bike) a 2k Ride to the Finish
The leaders had already come through when a moto approached me and said, "Get your camera ready - one hell of a shot is coming your way"
I readied.
30 seconds later, the form of a rider appeared up the road. Wait. A rider? Two riders? What the hell is that thing? As the form approached, I began to realize that Chris Horner was actually giving someone a ride on the back of his bike. Uphill. To the finish. After busting ass to help Levi for 70 some-odd miles.
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And, wait. What IS that? Is the guy carrying his bike?
Yes. Yes he is.
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He came across the line to huge applause.
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Incredible!!
Apparently, Billy Demong from Team American R.A.D.D./AGEL crashed with 2k to go, bike and body completely thrashed, and Horner stopped and said, "Hey dude, get on." and then rode them both up the hill to the finish.
I wasn’t really a huge Horner fan before this but I am now. What a class act!!
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64 Comments
July 12th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
that… is… AWESOME.
July 12th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
I second that- AWESOME.
July 12th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Horner is the shit!!!! That is the best photo story I`ve seen in years! I`m going to send this link to my brother in Korea he will be blown away! Great job!!!
July 12th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Sweet!! That is so cool!
July 12th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Hey, great coverage on our guy Horner! Any chance you’d like to share your photos with our team website? We’d love to let the fans know what Chris did and would be happy to give you the photo credit!
Cathy
Team Astana
July 12th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Chris is the MAN…should be in FRANCE but glad he can be at home in July this year! Can’t wait to see him in the mountains of Europe next year!
July 12th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Excellent story. I love to see riders at the highest level of the sport being true leaders in the most important ways: showing true class and sportsmanship.
July 12th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Thanks Guy! Horner yet again shows his mettle …he’s a Viking and a great cut man! Like Levi said he’s worth 8 riders … A true Maverick in the sport.
July 13th, 2008 at 4:41 am
Holy crap. Chris Horner is the man.
July 13th, 2008 at 6:13 am
I’ve always been a Chris Horner fan. Most down-to-earth bike racer I’ve ever met.
July 13th, 2008 at 8:32 am
It is too bad team Astana had all those doping issues last year. I really would have liked to have seen them in this year’s Tour.
July 13th, 2008 at 9:35 am
haha that’s awesome.
July 13th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Chris,
Nice. Screw Popo, you are worth WAY more. Class.
July 13th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Holy choke me up. That’s too cool. Way to be completely sportsman like.
More sports need to have folks like this.
July 13th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I’ve always like the dude, now i love him. Giddy up CH.
July 13th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
There is no way Horner could have carried that guy for 2k without taking EPO. Lets rig his B sample and kick him out of the race.
July 13th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
that is god dam NUTS ON CHIN!
July 13th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
This is what cycling really need, some true class-act guys. Thanks for bringing this to our attention! One salute for Horner!!!
July 13th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Sportsman of the year for that act of selflessness!
July 13th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Very cool. I love seeing stories about decent people. Makes you realize they still exist. Thank you both Chris and Billy. Love the looks on both your faces as you peddled on in. Good people.
July 13th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
http://www.velonews.com/article/80087/how-chris-horner-is-spending-july
Heidi Makes into Velo News!!!
Congratulations!!!
Photographer Heidi Swift was near the summit of the final climb of Saturday’s fifth stage of the Cascade Cycling Classic when a passing race moto driver told her to get her camera ready.
2008 Cascade Cycling Classic: Horner’s unloads his passenger at the finish line.
Photo: Heidi SwiftSoon enough, Swift saw a strange sight: Astana rider Chris Horner pounding along, with a rider — and bike — along for the ride.
Swift learned later that Horner came across Billy Demong (Team American R.A.D.D./AGEL) about 2km from the summit. Horner, his work helping teammate Levi Leipheimer over, offered Demong a ride.
“I wasn’t really a huge Horner fan before this but I am now. What a class act,” Swift said.
July 13th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
[…] In the comments of my previous post, Jizz Bomb included a link that gives unrefutable proof that Chris Horner is the man. So you should go read that article and gaze in awe at the pictures. […]
July 13th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Is it any wonder why I LOVE Astana??
Chris stops to give a lift to Billy, Andreas stops to check on Frank Schleck in the Giro..
awesome!
Great coverage. Thanks so much.
July 13th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Chris … awesome as usual, yet above and beyond - let your true colors shine!
July 13th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
I know Billy from skiing Nordic Combined, not only is he a great cyclist, but he’s one of the very best in the world at nordic combined. Last year at Sapporo at the world championships he finished second and this year he was third overall at the end of the world cup season
July 14th, 2008 at 12:52 am
[…] Horner Gives Fallen Rider (and bike) a 2k Ride to the finish. What a top sport!read more | digg […]
July 14th, 2008 at 3:03 am
Kudos to Chris Horner! Sportsmanship is alive and well. Thank you, thank you and thank you for sharing this great story.
July 14th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Love it!!!
July 14th, 2008 at 7:04 am
[…] http://everydayathleteblog.com/2008/07/12/chris-horner-gives-fallen-rider-and-bike-a-2k-ride-to-the-… […]
July 14th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Definitely a great inspiration (for a lot of other racers, not just spectators)!
July 14th, 2008 at 8:49 am
I think Bontranger needs to use those photos to show how strong their wheels are- of course the two of them still probably only weigh in at 200lbs!
Horner is a class act and glad to see he could reach out to Demong- maybe he’ll take Chris out ski jumping sometime to pay him back- both on one pair of skis- now that would be a sight!
DEA
July 14th, 2008 at 10:04 am
That means he hauled him up to Bachelor from sonewhere around Todd Lake! What a guy!
July 14th, 2008 at 10:39 am
[…] reported in “The Everyday Athlete“, the “lift” was 2 kilometers long, and […]
July 14th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
[…] What makes Leipheimer’s victory so special is that he realized this with only Chris Horner as his support throughout the race. There were no other team-mates or team staff for both riders. Chris Horner, in the past already three times stage winner in the Cascade Cycling Classic, did a fabulous job the last five days. For a funny and incredible photo story of Horner showing true class and sportsmanship: CLICK HERE […]
July 14th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
That is what makes Horner the man! I could say more but let’s just leave it this: Pro Cycling is better because of Chris Horner.
July 14th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
STUD!
July 14th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Way to go Chris!!!!
If there was a Jersey for the most sportsmanship Rider, It would have gone to Chris.
I’ve meet Chris and rode with him a few time here in San Diego. He a really cool and nice guy!
July 14th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
[…] What makes Leipheimer’s victory so special is that he won the race with only one teammate (Chris Horner) Chris Horner, in the past already three times stage winner in the Cascade Cycling Classic, did a fabulous job the last five days. For a funny and incredible photo story of Horner showing true class and sportsmanship:http://everydayathleteblog.com/2008/07/12/chris-horner-gives-fallen-rider-and-bike-a-2k-ride-to-the-… […]
July 14th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
This confirms my last “meeting” with Chris. We were watching the Wendy’s Cycling Classic in Columbus with my two boys, Chris was riding for Mercury at the time. My boys were yelling “Go! Go! Go!” to every racer and waving to them on the cool-down lap. Most of the riders just went right past but Chris stopped and gave both my boys one of his water bottles. They were elated that one of the racers not only stopped to talk to them, but gave them something.
Chris, you always were the man, just more people know it now.
July 15th, 2008 at 6:35 am
[…] He’s giving out rides up a 2km hilltop finish. Seriously. Check out the story. […]
July 15th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Really fantastic foto, Chris is real MAN, ASTANA FOREVER!
July 15th, 2008 at 11:55 am
I wouldn’t expect anything less from Chris. He’s a stud and a gentleman. Kudos to you Mr. Horner.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Wow…how cool is that.
July 15th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
The story about Chris carrying Billy Demong 2k across the finish line is totally incredible. But it was only one of the great Horner stories from the race. Chris was taken-out in a crash in the first QUARTER MILE of the first stage. He got back on his bike, worked for Levi the entire race, and then flated with 10K to the finish. Crazy bad luck. Unreal. Then on the Friday night crit in downtown Bend, Horner pulled the enitre peloton for Levi for the majority of the race. It was totally impressive. Then, after the circuit race on the final day, Chris was riding home when a fan asked him to sign a bottle with a ball-point pen. Obviously it didn’t work. So Chris rode back to the finish line to get a marker and signed the bottle for the fan. Horner is a freaking stud and a class act. And it’s a damn shame he isn’t representing us at the Olympics. You rock Chris Horner.
July 15th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
[…] The Everyday Athlete » Blog Archive » Chris Horner Gives Fallen Rider (and bike) a 2k Ride to the … I’m a Chris Horner fan. I miss Astana at the TDF this year. (tags: cycling) […]
July 15th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Promoteurs,
Here is a your new race format: two riders, one bike, you switch sitting arrangement when you want.
July 15th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
in.credible!
July 16th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Chris Horner is really unique: a fantastic athlete, sportsman, teammate, cycling strategist, communicator (great interviewee), sense of humor — a class act.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Class with a capital C
This is TRUE sportsmanship!!!!
July 16th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
How can you NOT be a Horner fan now? If was “Fred” enough to buy and wear a Pro Team jersey…it was certainly be Astana. Columbia…Garmin…nope…go Astana..
GO HORNER!
July 16th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Yeah, no kidding DPL. Horner got crashed out- some yahoo hit a cone on a “neutral” rollout and took him down.
Chris is one of the most vivacious and entertaining guys you can meet. SUPER friendly.
You can check out some of the great pics that Heidi took at the crit here:
http://www.astana-cyclingteam.com/PhotoGallery_Stage.aspx?Code=220
(the pic of them in the upper left hand corner is of Chris explaining how they rode the climb on Thursday entirely in their big ring. insane.)
July 17th, 2008 at 8:43 am
He IS amazing and completely friendly. The next day a mere 45 minutes before the circuit race, my bike (locked to a rack) got a flat near where he and Levi were sitting. Me, being a newbie to fixing flats was slightly intimidated by the pro’s all around watching. Chris not only gave me a few helpful hints on changing the tire, but he also lent me the safety pin off of his jersey so I could get the glass out of my tire. He even helped me get the rear wheel back on the bike. Class act indeed! (I’ve got pictures and everything.)
July 17th, 2008 at 11:17 am
[…] http://everydayathleteblog.com/2008/07/12/chris-horner-gives-fallen-rider-and-bike-a-2k-ride-to-the-… […]
July 18th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Chris, I always thought you were a great guy. Remember the Simi Valley training rides during the ’90’s? We sure miss seeing you in the Tour this year!
Best regards, Cindy Goodman
July 19th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
[…] if you’re not much of a sports fan, you’ve got to love a story of true sportsmanship. A class act indeed. [via Pirates of the Burley […]
July 20th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
This is what I call true sportsmanship. Winning takes second place to helping someone out. What a champ!
July 21st, 2008 at 6:32 am
Wow. That’s Sports!
July 21st, 2008 at 12:42 pm
That is cool as hell! I hope he got something for coming in first in the tandem category.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:26 am
We sure wish Chris would be participating in SuperWeek, (going on now in SE Wisconsin and Northern Illinois and concluding in Milwaukee on 7/27. We’ve been big fans ever since he was in this 2 week long race prior to his TdF days and miss the excitement he brings to the event. Could someone tell Chris to call Otto Wenz and get a ticket
out here? Come on down, the weather’s fine!!
Judy and Arnie Gertsma
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:08 am
Chris Horner is being tons of class to cycling. In this time where cycling is getting hit hard due to doping allegations, it is great to see a top rate athlete show this sort of sportsmanship. Chris, you are truely awe-inspiring!
July 25th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
I met Chris Horner at the first Tour de Georgia. He was a class act then and he’s a class act now.
July 28th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
[…] een link naar het hele verhaal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You […]
August 21st, 2008 at 5:44 pm
[…] Hitching a Ride With Horner […]
September 28th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
That made what has been so far a pretty crappy day into a pretty okay day. Thanks.
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