Chris Horner speaks out on why he won't compete in the Tour de France

June 26, 3:45 PMCycling ExaminerJames Raia

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It didn't take long. As soon as Astana announced its much anticipated Tour de France roster and Chris Horner wasn't on it, Internet web sites were abuzz.

How could Horner, a team rider for all team rides, not get selected? Was his recent injury a factor? How about age? Or, how about international cycling politics? Bingo.

Horner, who writes an insightful column called “Freewheeling” for The Oregonian newspaper in Portland, provides all the details of why in a little more than a week, he won't be pedaling in Monaco at the start of the Tour de France.

"Politics seemed to once again be what was holding me back from doing what I love, racing at the top of my sport,” writes Horner. “Johan gave me many reasons why he couldn't take me, and all of them made sense to me from a political standpoint, but absolutely no sense from a straight up who deserves to go standpoint."

Horner's column, like his recent contributions to the newspaper during the Tour of Italy, is straight from his heart. Check it out:

Chris Horner explains why he was left off the Astana Tour de France roster
 

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