Showing no signs of slowing down, American Chris Horner took a solo victory in the third stage of the Vuelta a España and laid claim to the red leader’s jersey. 

In the process he became the oldest rider in the history of cycling to win a stage in a Grand Tour, with the prior honour going to Pino Cerami who won a Tour stage at 41 years, 2 months.  Horner will turn 42 in October. 

“It was fantastic today.  There were multiple attacks but when I looked back and saw that I had a small gap, I just said to myself that I was going.  There were so many attacks that when I finally got to the last rider I wasn’t 100 per cent sure he was the last guy, but in the car they were telling me to ‘Go! Go!’ So I went full gas to the line.  It’s always a gift to win.  And when you win here with all of these world class riders, you know you are one of the best riders, too, and it’s a wonderful feeling.”

The 184,8 km stage began in Vigo and ended in Mirador de Lobeira. The final pitch was just enough to stir things up after a crash saw many riders hit the ground.  Horner avoided the carnage and jumped clear in the last kilometer of racing to cross the finish line three seconds ahead of Alejandro Valverde and Joaquím Rodriguez.  It was a second win this month for Horner who claimed a stage win two weeks ago in the Tour of Utah after missing much of the season due to a knee injury.

“I hurt my knee earlier in the year. Utah was my first race since end of March but I’m back now and I feel good and motivated to win some races.  I’ve trained very hard and now I’m back to work.  I wanted to take the jersey today.  That was my plan and I hope to keep it as long as possible.”

Chris Horner has had a long and successful career in cycling but shows no signs of preparing to leave the sport. 

“I love racing.  Everyone keeps asking me when I am going to retire, but I won’t do that until I feel like I’m just suffering all day on the bike and never winning bike races.  At this moment I feel like I can keep racing forever.  We feel we can keep this jersey for a few days.  The team is so strong; we will work to keep it.  Markel [Irizar], Fabian [Cancellara], Rasty [Rast] – they are the best at riding on the flats and I will be well protected by them.  We will work for more stage wins too – I think I can win the Vuelta.”

Chris Horner, who is without a contract for next season, gave RadioShack a thanks for the four years they have sponsored the team.

“Thank you RadioShack for sponsoring me and the team for 4 years. They stop now and also I am at the end of contract. My contract is free and open."