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 (also a Nordic skier for the US Ski Team!) from Team American R.A.D.D./AGEL crashed with 2k to go, bike and body completely thrashed.
Horner stopped and said, “Hey dude, get on.” (you can imagine Horner saying this, right? : ) and then rode them both up the hill to the finish.
What a class act.
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.)
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.)
[...] http://everydayathleteblog.com/2008/07/12/chris-horner-gives-fallen-rider-and-bike-a-2k-ride-to-the-… [...]
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
[...] 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 [...]
This is what I call true sportsmanship. Winning takes second place to helping someone out. What a champ!
Wow. That’s Sports!
That is cool as hell! I hope he got something for coming in first in the tandem category.
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
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!
I met Chris Horner at the first Tour de Georgia. He was a class act then and he’s a class act now.
[...] een link naar het hele verhaal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You [...]
[...] Hitching a Ride With Horner [...]
But would Chris Horner have given Jason McCartney a ride after Horners cry-baby whining in Velonews about JMac being picked over Horner for the Olympic road race?
At the Sea Otter Classic Laguna Seca pits in ’99 stood Chris, talking to his prior Nutra Fig teamates. 20 feet over Mr. Phinney was interviewing a rider, for OLN.
LIFE IS A CIRCLE
That made what has been so far a pretty crappy day into a pretty okay day. Thanks. :-)
[...] don’t follow cycling, and I have no idea who Chris Horner is, but he’s my new hero. Carrying a fallen rider, and his bike. to the finish line, UP A FREAKING HILL, is cool beyond [...]
So glad I found this blog, love the inspiring photo.
This man is a class act, and it renews my faith in my fellow man.
[...] 原文於：Chris Horner Gives Fallen Rider (and bike) a 2k Ride to the Finish、影片(最後十二秒) [...]
[...] tous cas, en regardant cette photo. On peut croire que les madones ne cassent pas facilement Chris Horner Gives Fallen Rider (and bike) a 2k Ride to the Finish*|*The Everyday Athlete __________________ Quand on aime le dobitchu on aime le Kloug aux [...]
Hello, here via Bonnie D Ford’s twitter. What a great story & accompanying photos – I couldn’t quite believe it when Astana announced their roster. I’m definitely adding your blog to the RSS reader :)
[...] (I’ll also be around for Road Nats). Who knows – maybe I’ll even get to make more pictures of the amazing Mr. Horner again? He got seriously shafted by Astana for the tour but he handled it well (as he always [...]
[...] (I’ll also be around for Road Nats). Who knows – maybe I’ll even get to make more pictures of the amazing Mr. Horner again? He got seriously shafted by Astana for the tour but he handled it well (as he always [...]
Chris should never NOT have a ride.
wonder whatever happened to that Bill Demong. Probably quit. ;-)
wow. from a free ride to the finish to GOLD in vancouver. I think Bill should thank Horner for the gold.
[...] Like Chris Horner? Peep the images of his famous Billy Demong taxi ride here. [...]
An absolute brilliant show of classy sportsmanship! Way to go Chris!
Chris Horner is a gentleman amongst men. He has always been gracious. He seems always demonstrate a selflessness that does not often come within the ranks of pro athletes. I think Chris demonstrates a level of sportsmanship for us all!
[...] “Now Thats F@#king Team Work” (Sang in a Tenacious D style) by Axel under Banter I was reading a tour de France summary today and it referred to Chris Horner as Mr. Nice Guy. I thought I would research why he is known as such in my normal Google stalker-ish ways. I found this! [...]
[...] place finish in the Tour de Georgia in 2003. He also achieved no small amount of fame when he stopped to give a ride (yes – give a ride) to a crashed rider and his broken bike. He pedaled himself, the injured [...]
[...] Chris does when he’s done working for Levi at “local” stage races like Cascade. Here’s the complete photo series. Thanks for reminding me [...]