More cycling gossip on Chris Horner

According to VeloNews, sources close to the situation has said that Horner will join Lampre-Merida, and according to the anonymous statement the contract was “essentially 100-percent done.”

Until now Horner has been linked to just about any team in the WorldTour and to several others, and it is far from certain if the newest rumor is true.

“When I left Italy, there was nothing confirmed,” Lampre sport director Bruno Vicino told VeloNews. “I know that there has been some talks with Horner, some negotiating, but as far as I know, there is no official news. There is some interest from the team to sign an American.”

Bruno Vicino’s statement does lend a bit of credentials to the story though, and the question is perhaps just, if Horner have lowered his paycheck requirements to a level where Lampre can play along.

Actually Horner might just fit in at Lampre. In Rui Costa they have a world champion who wants to give the Tour his best, and Niemic will probably get support for the Giro. But want they do not have is a clear-cut candidate for the Vuelta, and according to the rumors that candidacy is exactly what Horner wants.

Who knows though. For all we know Chris Horner could end up riding for the Vino4Ever squad in the high mountains of Kazakhstan.

In any case, we live in a society where you are innocent until proven otherwise, so hopefully Horner will get to ride in 2014. Somewhere.