42-years old Chris Horner is among numerous riders that have found themselves without a team to continue their professional careers in 2014 season. Recognizing that various circumstances combined together do not work in his favor and that his former agent is not able to use his recent achievements to provide him with a spot in a World Tour team, the American received a lifeline, possibly the last one, in the person of recently retired Baden Cooke.

According to numerous rumors floating in the cycling media, Horner’s age combined with his exaggerated demands regarding the financial side of a contract were the main reasons why he was left without a team to compete in 2014 season. However, Baden Cooke claims that Horner is now the cheapest Grand Tour winner of the last decade and even though the situation is highly difficult while most of the teams have finalized their rosters, Australian still believes there is a chance for Horner to defend his Vuelta a Espana title.

"His past agent [Michael Rutherford] was not able to find something", Cooke told Cyclingnews ahead of the Australian road championship in Ballarat, Victoria.

Even though Horner called Cooke on the last day of the 2013, Australian found himself unable to refuse his former team-mate and the cyclist he always praised for his consistency.

"Normally, everything is done in terms of riders' contracts a long time before this time of the year, but when Chris called me, I said I would do it because since we've been team-mates in my very first professional team, Mercury [in 2000 and 2001], I've always known how good he is as a bike rider. He's been underrated until he won the Vuelta but he's been one of the most consistent champions of the past ten years."

"I was a big fan when he raced the Vuelta for the win", Cooke continued.

"I was surprised he didn't get a contract. Now I hope I can save the day for him. I've contacted many teams and I got a lot of negative answers, either because their roster is already full or because they want younger riders only, but there are still some possibilities in the air in the World Tour. Ideally, he'd race in support of a Tour de France contender and defend his title at the Vuelta. He's in the best form of his entire career and he's the cheapest Grand Tour winner of the past decade."

Cooke, 35, retired from cycling after riding his fourteenth season as a professional. He's not a UCI certified agent yet. While he tries to save a season for Horner, Australian admits that his biggest goal as an agent remains supporting his young fellow countrymen in developing their careers and introducing them to European cycling.

"Until I pass the exam in September, I'm working for free and on a verbal basis with the riders", the green jersey winner of the 2003 Tour de France said.

"It's coming faster than I expected. Many cyclists have contacted me. But although I represent the oldest rider, my big emphasis is on young guys. I want to take young Australians to Europe."