Viva Horner!

Just a month shy of being 42 years old, Chris Horner should be sitting on a sofa, cold beer in the palm of his hand, watching the Eurosport coverage of the 2013 VueltaaEspana, with Vincenzo Nibali breaking down Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez. Well, he wasn't and he was the one shredding Nibali, Valverde and Rodriguez.

For a rider who has been riding under the shadows of him more popular peers, this is vindication of more than 20 years of self-belief.

Last night, unless something tragic happen, Christopher Horner will become the first American and the oldest cyclist to win the Vuelta and any Grand Tour. Viva Horner!

F1 & Cycling

Euskaltel- Euskadi is one of the oldest, professional cycling teams in the world today. Founded in 1994, it originates from the Basque region of Spain, and is so maniacally nationalistic that until a year ago, would only sign riders from the region. Roberto Laiseka and Ivan Mayo are some of the famous riders for this orange-liveried team.

Since the Basque region is mountainous, most of the cyclists that come out are climbers. I have yet to see Euskaltel rider who can sprint and time trial.

So when the UCI ruled that only teams with certain point could ride the big races, Euskaltel lacked the points so they had no choice but to hire riders based on points, not nationalities.

Euskaltel's sponsor is the region's telecommunications company and the Basquegovernment, making it the only pro cycling team owned by the people. But, as Bob Dylan sang, the times they are a-changing and with the economy not doing well, Euskaltel said that this year would be their last as team sponsor leaving about 25 riders and at least the same number of support personnel high and dry.

While cycling and motorsports are as similar to oil and Gatorade, it has a history of working together, especially with the discovery of carbon fiber and its integration into sporting equipment. Ernesto Colnago the makers of the venerable Colnago bikes, the Levi's of bicycle frames, was the first to enter into an agreement with Ferrari in the 80's.Then just recently, Specialized Bikes, an American brand that started out as a MTB company, and McClaren, was working hand in hand in the development of their high end road frame, the Venge.

So it wasn't a surprise that Fernando Alonso, the two time F1 World Champion would come in and save the day for the Basque-based team. Everybody knows that Alonso and Alberto Contador, multi-Tour de France champion, were good friends. Although the agreement to buy Euskaltel-Euskadi's license isn't signed yet, it's as good as done.

 But the intrigue is that Contador will leave his current team, SAXO-Tinkoff, and ride for Alonzo's new squad even if he is signed with his current team up to the 2015 season.

But what I find interesting is how the Spaniard from Astorias can juggle managing his cycling team and at the time giving F1 his full and undivided attention. Can he do it?

Finally, here are the results if September 8's Danao City Mayor's Cup Road Race…CAT B 1- Ryan Ocanada (Quatro Hotel) 2- Toto Lim (Roentgen), 3- Rey Erasmo (Quatro) 4- Tata Ty (Quatro Hotels), 5- Rex Gnzalez…..Cat B- 1- Ramon Espinosa 2-  JezamBaldomar 3- Jonas Ponseca 4- Jeoffrey Flores 5- Philip Sianz