Chris Horner will miss Tour de Georgia, Giro d'Italia

VeloNews.com | Horner to miss Tour de Georgia

Saunier Duval-Prodir's Chris Horner, who won the 2003 Tour de Georgia and finished 3rd last year, will miss the 2005 edition of the race.

Horner fractured his left hip at Tirreno-Adriatico in early March, and had initially been told it would heal in time for this week's TdG. A follow-up visit suggested the risk was greater than initially thought, and Horner has been “confined to his couch.” He's expected to also miss the Giro d'Italia, and thinks he's missed his chance at the squad's Tour de France team.

“The Tour team is more or less picked out, but I'm planning on returning for [the USPRO championships in] Philadelphia and the Tour de Suisse. If I have a great Tour de Suisse, I could still make the Tour team.”

Horner said missing this year's Tour de Georgia is especially painful:

“This is going to be the showcase of the top Americans,” Horner said. “I'm sorry to miss it, but there's nothing I can do about it.”

Also:

CyclingNews.com | First Edition Cycling News: Saunier Duval for Georgia

Here's the CyclingNews final roster of Saunier Duval riders for the Tour de Georgia:

David Canada
Rafael Casero
Juan Jose Cobo
Nicolas Fritsch
Marco Pinotti
Manuel Quinziato
Andrea Tafi

Here's the preliminary roster listed at the Tour de Georgia site -- I'm pretty sure they'll have 8 riders, not 7:

Marco Pinotti
Andrea Tafi
Manuel Quinziato
David Cañada
Rafael Casero
Juan Jose Cobo
Angel Gomez
Angel Edo