Riding impressively well in the 101st edition of the Tour de France at the age of 42 and only three months after his accident during a training ride, Christopher Horner believes in his chances to defend the Vuelta a Espana title and cherishes constantly increasing competition as stars are falling every day in the French grand tour.

Despite an accident which forced him out of the Giro d’Italia, bronchitis, domestique role to Rui Costa at Lampre-Merida team and still few additional kilos keeping him from his optimal disposition, Horner managed to show himself off at the front of the peloton in the Alps and thus sent quite optimistic signals in regards to him title defense at the Spanish grand tour.

The competition at the Vuelta is expected to be the toughest in years, as Chris Froome (Team Sky), Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo), Alejandro Valverde, Nairo Quintana (Movistar) or Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) should all line up at the start, but the 42-year old American is ready to face the best climbers in order to repeat last season’s success.

“I beat Nibali last year. He’s winning here this year. It is what it is. It’s always going to be harder when you add more competition, too. So that’s definitely the case,” Horner told VeloNews.

“Honestly, when I got hit in the tunnel a few months back, I thought if I broke my arms or legs that was the end of my career right there. So for sure you’re not making Spain. Froome, with a hand problem, small fracture, I’ve had that before. Been back on the bike right away but that doesn’t mean I had exactly what he has. It can definitely change things. But clearly, the competition could get better. Which is good — that’s what everybody wants. Which is what you want, you want to beat the best in the world. That’s why I’m at the Tour de France to begin with, so you can race against the best. But really last year to this year the only completion that you would really start to change is bringing Alberto and bringing Froome. Other than that we had Joaquim Rodriguez at his best, Valverde at his best, Nibali, OK, maybe he was a kilo heavy or something like that but he still did go on — all three of those guys went on to dominate the world championships, too, so you know they were on their best form.”

“Nibali, here I think we’re seeing maybe a slightly better version of him than what I raced against in Spain. Possibly. He looks like he’s a little bit lighter. That doesn’t always mean you’re better, but usually it’s a good sign.”

Earlier during the race, Horner admitted that Tour de France is much more physically demanding, with all even flat stages requiring a huge focus and being played at a higher pace. Once again the 42-year old American confirmed his previous opinion and explained how the first hectic week of the French grand tour wears general classification contenders even before they hit the mountains.

“They’re completely different courses. They’re not the same. They’re absolutely different. The mountains are different. The first week wears you out in the Tour before you even get to the mountains, whereas in Spain you’ve already worn out those big, flat guys … the sprinters and all. You’ve already worn them out before they even get to a field sprint. They can’t do so much damage to me on the flat days like they did here in the Tour, so I arrive in the mountains fresher.”

Despite an increased competition at this year’s Vuelta, the Lampre-Merida rider still expects himself to be competitive enough to challenge the best in Spain, if only he could quickly overcome a fatigue and bronchitis which struck several riders from his team and forced Rui Costa out of the race.,

“If I can recover outta here. Whatever the bronchitis thing that happened … if I can get outta here and recover, then I like my chances. I think it should be good. I’ll go back to the U.S. and I’ll be in the heat, finally, for the first time all year. Hopefully there’s no more car accidents in the dark tunnels and everything should be good.”

“Honestly, I have really good form here, I’m just sick. When you look at what I’ve done — and I’m still a little heavy and how soon it is since I left the ER, I’m very, very happy with my form. I just got sick. … The lungs just aren’t breathing 100 percent, which a few of us have it on the team. Who knows, maybe we picked up some cow s—t on the Paris-Roubaix stage.”

Turning 43 this October, Horner dismissed a suggestion that winning the potentially star-studded Vuelta a Espana for the second consecutive year would be a good moment to call in a career…

“No no. I love — that stuff is hilarious. I hear it all the time. F—k that man. You might have another win left in you. I want to win again.”

“[In the Alps] I was climbing with the Tour de de France in the front group. So where’s the top? And then is the top when you win the tour of Spain at 42 or when you win the tour of Spain when you’re 44?”