Chris Horner without a team due to 'sponsor pressure'
Lampre-Merida team manager Brent Copeland says Horner was not offered a new contract because of 'sponsor pressure'.
Chris Horner is currently without a team for the 2015 season despite Lampre-Merida team manager Brent Copeland, Horner and his agent all willing for the former Vuelta a Espana winner to stay on at the Italian team.
“I would have liked to have kept him on board but obviously we have various sponsors who we have to keep happy and various requests from them for riders they want,” Copeland told Cyclingnews.
“It wasn’t that there were sponsors pushing not to take Chris. It’s just that there were sponsors pushing for riders from their territories, like Taiwan and China."
Copeland defended the decision, adding: "We have to look at a number of aspects including the economical side, and the talent of riders within certain territories."
Horner has suffered an incident prone season, which is likely to be the main reason behind his lack of a team for 2015.
The 42-year-old American rider was unable to defend his 2013 Vuelta win this season due to low cortisol levels, but at the time his agent Baden Cooke was sure of brokering a new contract.
Copeland is still confident Horner is capable of riding at the highest level.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
“I still think that Chris can ride a Grand Tour and go for a top ten...It’s a real pity because of the sacrifices he’s put into his work and the talent that he has."
Lampre-Merida said in a statement: “In 2014 Horner had to face many unfortunate incidents, the most unfortunate being the terrible crash during training before the Giro d'Italia.
“Chris was not fortunate enough to demonstrate his true potential. Lampre-Merida would like to show their appreciation to Horner for his proactive attitude, his passion for cycling, sacrifices and efforts he made for the team during the 2014 season.
“Team Lampre-Merida wish Chris all the best for his future. It would have been great for the team and Chris to have crossed paths earlier on in his career in order to have had a longer relationship.”
Source: CyclingNews
Baden Cooke sure of brokering new contract for Chris Horner
Chris Horner out of Vuelta a Espana with low cortisol levels
Defending champion Chris Horner withdrawn by Lampre-Merida team after cortisone treatment for bronchitis
Chris Horner returns to racing with Lampre
American Chris Horner makes 2014 season debut for Lampre-Merida at the Challenge Mallorca
Chris Horner signs to Lampre-Merida
Vuelta a Espana winner Chris Horner inks deal with the Lampre-Merida team, keeping him in the WorldTour for 2014
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
'I used to be a bricklayer - I took a pay cut to become a cyclist': Brian Holm on his time in the peloton
The former Danish pro and well known sports director tells Cycling Weekly about his early days in cycling, including when he proved his school teachers wrong
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Arnaud De Lie diagnosed with Lyme disease after pulling out of Spring Classics
Antibodies for disease found in Belgian rider’s blood
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'There are serious implications' - Tadej Pogačar's UAE Team Emirates face sanctions threat
Growing pressure on Western governments to sanction UAE over Russia could spell trouble for Tadej Pogačar's team
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
UAE Emirates rider Alexys Brunel retires from professional cycling at 23
The young French rider is leaving the sport to focus on other challenges in life
By Ryan Dabbs Published
-
Tadej Pogačar returns to training after contracting covid
UAE Team Emirates say that Slovenian is still on track to make season debut at UAE Tour
By Adam Becket Published
-
Matteo Trentin: Roads are 'more of a jungle than a proper training environment'
Italian says that more needs to be done for cycling safety to protect the future of the sport
By Adam Becket Published
-
What did we learn from the first elite road races of the year?
Alejandro Valverde is still good; Lotto-Soudal are hungry for results; Biniam Girmay might be a force to be reckoned with
By Adam Becket Published
-
Brandon McNulty wins Trofeo Calvia, the first elite men's race of 2022
UAE-Emirates American rider wins the first part of the Challenge Mallorca with 60km solo attack
By Adam Becket Published
-
Which WorldTour team has the best kit for 2022? We take a look through the wardrobe
Now almost all the kits are out, here are our measured ratings of racing kit ahead of the 2022 season
By Adam Becket Published
-
Matteo Trentin says he would not be surprised to see Pogačar in the final of the Tour of Flanders
Italian puncheur will once again target the classics in 2022
By Adam Becket Published