When Landis DEMOLISHED the Tour de France 

Your channel is the gold standard for ex-pro peloton content: insightful, varied and dynamic. Chapeau!

You have a photographic memory of rides you've done. Amazing.

Chris, you were known as an energetic, supportive, and jolly guy in the peloton, and now you give us the only possible positive verdict on this era. I am so glad that you are around, and making videos. Oh, and that 2013 Vuelta was incredible. Many thanks!

Watched this stage live and you knew it was special - which it remains albeit different reasons Thank you for sharing the inside stories so eloquently

I remember following this stage all morning here in the US online. At the time I couldn't believe what was going on, the favorites just couldn't catch Landis. I admit I got caught up in the excitement and didn't think at all about the implications of Landis riding like he was. When the positive test came back a few days later, I second guessed my understanding of cycling. As time went on, I started to realize just how pervasive doping was in cycling at that time especially as the flood of Operacion Puerto revelations kept building throughout 2006. I was definitely naive at the time. These days, we know that essentially the entire peloton was juiced back then. I now feel the judgments levied against Armstrong and Landis were just BUT that many other riders that deserve a similar judgement have not been made to face the music. The whole affair makes me distrust the various organizing bodies and anti-doping organizations and feel that tremendous hypocrisy and omerta about the long history of doping in cycling remains to this day. Riis, Pantani and Ullrich are all still "official" winners of the Tour. No one influential in cycling has publicly questioned the absurd Banesto / Big Mig era of the mid-90s. No one mentions that Merckx failed at least three doping controls. No one has confirmed who "won" the Tours Lance won (because all of the main competitors were on EPO). The whole situation is insane.

God I love Chris’ stories.

Cadel giving you props like that will stay with you forever.

Chris, I’m a lifelong cycling fan and TDF fan, having grown up in France. Ive had the pleasure of being working with NBC on the Tour for 9 Tours (except last year and this year), chatted with you a couple of time. I still think of this stage 17 as one of the greatest stage in my lifetime, epic regardless of anything else.

I feel guilty that I’m getting such great content for free off RU-vid. This could be a 30 for 30 special on espn. Great video Chris!

Oh no, "The Mouse is out of the Bag" HAHAHAHA--Another reason why I love CH's Story Time. Keep 'em coming.

Thanks Chris for your amazing recollection of this epic stage...I remember watching on TV and thinking this is the greatest sporting event/stage I have EVER witnessed!

You are so right about this being a turning point and props for standing by your friends.

Chris, your first hand accounts are phenomenal. Thank you so much for sharing them with us!

More videos like this please Chris! Helps me pass the time until the snow melts and I can ride again!

A privilege to hear you share your experience; thank you for taking the time to put this out.

Chris, good work, you should make these available on podcasts!

Good thing I got off work early so I could listen to story time with Chris! Fantastic job covering that stage thanks for sharing!

How incredible is it to be able to sit & listen to these stories from some who was there, someone who lived this, someone who was right in the middle of it. Epic. I feel I have a mate who's an ex pro rider, I've gone to his house & he's sharing his experiences. Thanks Chris.

Incredible storytelling! Thanks, Chris! That was a great refresher. I had missed the live airing that morning and never really looked at the full stage after. Just the recaps and then the fallout.

I remember watching this epic stage. Thanks for the great insight Chris.

I’ve been following bike racing since 2003 and this was the most epic stage of all time. We’ll never see anything else like it.

Chris, I could listen to these stories all day long! Great job!

Thanks for sharing your race stories! Reminds me of how I would re-live my race stories with teammates in college and amateur racing. :) So great! I was so stoked when you faught for the win, and won, at the Giro…inspiring! Thanks Chris!

Great storytelling Chris! So much fun just listening about your racing days!

Chris, I remember this stage! It was incredible. I will never forget this day.

I haven't been that entertained listening to a cycling insight for long times , thanks ! you were already exactly as well-spoken as today in these interviews

Amazing,really like the way you tell the race story,i remember thinking,at the time, that history was being made. Had the pleasure to see you race in Vancouver BC ,bitter sweet for you at the time ,i'm sure,but super cool for the fans.Thanks for coming out

I just watched this video again. It's awesome Chris. Thanks for posting it. I found another video with a bunch of interviews, it's a great watch.

Thank you for immersive storytelling, I feel like I'm at the race chasing too :):):)

I remember that stage, it was epic (later tainted by what happened), I love the way Chris Horner tells it from the inside of the race and his job, epic also !

Wow, great story Chris! I've been a big fan of yours since the RadioShack days and always loved the way your rode and also your interviews. So much respect for what you did in cycling during your the latter years, especially the 2013 Vuelta, of course. I'm so glad I found your channel today and I just subscribed. Keep up the great work, especially story time, I really enjoyed it.

Thanks for sharing your experience of this stage. I loved watching it at the time, but it is great hearing your insider's info. Champion mate.

Great story & Cadel really seems like a good guy! Cheers Chris

Great story Chris. I remembered this stage as if it was yesterday

Just rewatched this stage. This along with your "Story" really changed how all this went down! Thanks !

This has to be one of the greatest stories, greatest insight ever told in cycling. Amazing Chris, absolutely riveting.

Horner & McEwen hands down best story tellers from the Tour.

Cadel always looked in pain, Chris always looked happy O/O°

First time finding the channel. You are a great story teller, and the perspective you share of being a supporting rider is very interesting and entertaining. I hope you'll share more.

It strikes me, that I just subbed now, been following this channel for years. This is one of the best inside peleton stories I've ever witnessed, incl. 2nd hand reports from the peletons in the golden years in the 1970s. This is plus gold standard. Haven't seen the stage since then, i.e. nearly 17 years from now, but remember every meter now as a TV watcher. But this is on a completely different level. Goose bumps.

Awesome segment. You've got the best stories. Bonus that you're a really good storyteller. Chapeau.

"Crushed guys souls " that was a great line. I've been on a couple soul crushing rides ,lol. great story.

Thanks so much Chris for sharing that day. From a tough day to one that might not have been as painful, my wife and I watched your Tour de Georgia podium celebration in Atlanta. We were fans from that day on and followed you over the years. Thanks for all of the gutsy rides and winning one for the "old" guys in Spain. Please keep them coming.

Epic. Thanks SO much, Chris! Love you & love your insights.

What a great breakdown, thank you! Always been a fan of you.

Next story Tour de Basque and working for Contador. Epic!

Great video Chris, so glad I came across your channel, liked and subscribed. Really missed you on the tour this year. Cheers

After I watched this I went back and watched footage of this and the preceeding stage so thanks for fleshing it out with your memories Chris.

"As much sugar and food as you can bring me" haha so true.

Love the story times Chris

Chris, this is an amazing story! Thank you. I was about to complete in my 2nd commonwealth games in 2006 and at our tune up international the week before, our team captain spoke of Floyd’s performance in his speech to the team the night before at dinner (as rowers, we all love cycling). By the commonwealths the next week, Floyd had tested positive and I will never forget the mixture of humour that my captain’s speech had gone wrong, sorrow and hope for endurance sport and respect for Floyd’s performance when we knew the sport was far from clean. Thank you for taking the time to tell it!!

Wow, Chris. Thank you. Fantastic. My favourite stage ever...so good to have this inside story on it.

Chris, I really love hearing these epic cycling stories from your POV and you have an amazing memory. Please keep making content!

15:30 You could also have had an excellent career as a diplomat given how you describe the state of the peloton at this point in time 😄. Really appreciate your story!

Chris, thank you for the epic race story. Can’t imagine the suffering. I really like the detail and the respect you show for fellow racers in that era. What a time you raced in. Got me into racing. Always love the butterfly effect brother.. keep them coming, peace be with you

Amazing stories, analysis, perspectives, straight from a man who was creating history. Thanks. Excellent.

I looked at OLN’s video coverage on RU-vid when I saw you posted this, and in the last 24 hours it has jumped over 1,000 views. That said in watching the finale you have to believe something was up as Landis arrives at the finish line looking way too fresh. It was epic to watch!

What a great recap and perspective. I was watching that stage and told my wife "they'll be talking about this stage and Floyd's performance for 50 years."

absolutely incredible, Chris...Merry x-mas to you and yours!

Loved hearing this Chris - sounds brutal!! Super interesting to get the back story!! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊

Thank you - this sport is like music - the more I learn the more I want to know.

Wow, Just caught this. This is a Fantastic Story Chris, Thanks for sharing your take on it. Definitely half an hour well spent. I think that you make an important point about Lance/Floyd etc and the Stage.

I remember this stage and this tour.. it was a big blow to my enthusiasm towards the sport..

such great insights... eye-opening when it comes to Lance & Johan... LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL YOUR FUTURE UPLOADS !!

What an awesome story Chris, thanks for sharing it and your passion for cycling. It’s so nice to get this inside the race story to help us get an idea of what the race is like. Now hopefully I can find the 2006 TDF to watch the whole race.

This is such an awesome video, great work Chris. Would love to see more story time style videos like this. Such great insight and very entertaining

Another great video Chris. I always loved watching you race your bike and now enjoy your videos.

This is such a great recap of a stage that I knew so little about. Thanks Chris

I remember watching the stage without any doubt there were peds at play and thinking “Floyd No, that’s too much”. Lance would only do just enough and often yield the stage victory but maintain his time gaps.

durianrider brought me here. I agree with durianrider, Horners channel is a gem. He is insanely entertaining with his story time videos.

Watching this for the dozenth or so time, and it's just hit me how fun yet insightful your Lotto team would have been - yourself and Robbie on the media side of it, Mario and Christophe now in the team cars, and Cadel doing testing.

Chris, you and Bobke do the best commentating on cycling and are right there with Liggett. Thank you for all you have done for American cycling. You are greatly appreciated by this retired cyclist taking me right back to my days in the peloton.

Love the stories, keep them coming. I remember watching that epic stage. BTW, it's 'let the cat out of the bag', not 'mouse'. Cracked me up with that one.

I remember watching this. Notice the heads of the riders when he passed everyone. They were turning quickly.

Man, this is one of you best videos!!! What a great talent to tell these stories!!!

Chris, I’ve always loved your enthusiasm and honesty. You are a good and honest soul. This coming weekend I have a tough climbing event and listening/watching your vlogs is like fuel to my soul, a “doping” to my being. Love you brother Chris...

I Love "Super Domestique story Time" You are an Honorary Aussie for services rendered to Cadel!

That was incredible and always love hearing Chris’s takes. I need to find those post stage interviews he mentioned. I probably saw them live at the time, it would be cool to go back and check that out.

What an awesome recap, thank you Chris!

Thanks for the stories! I’m new to cycling and love hearing all your war stories and history!

(long pause) "...how riders were preparing for races" - interesting way to describe the situation.

So glad to see you cover this stage. This is literally my favorite stage of any Tour stage I’ve ever seen. I will never forget this day, I was at work listening to the race and when they said Floyd broke away and was charging up the mountain, I knew something special was happening. I immediately left work without explanation and drove home as fast as possible to get to the TV. I stood in my living room cheering for Floyd and watching the most incredible ride I have ever seen. Floyd dumping water on himself the entire ride, putting time into the pack and descending like a demon on his way to the line. Most amazing performance I have ever seen. Years later after Floyd’s fall from grace, he was riding in the Tour of Missouri on the Ouch team, I was there yelling for Floyd. To this day one of my favorite riders I ever watched along with Robbie McEwen and Tyler Hamilton.

Fabulous commentary. I can visualize the stage without even needing the video. Wonderful Chris! 10 out of 10

Love Horner's take on bike racing. Amazing how gracious he is given his own career was probably hurt by his competition's doping.

A great quote from the commentators "If Michael Rasmussen can do it yesterday, why not Floyd today?"

“Could crash, or worse... get a flat tire...” 😳😳😳

Thanks for the great story, Chris. I could listen to your stories all day. I remember sitting on the grass before the El Cajon Grand Prix with one of my teammates, Jason Charlibois, when you and a few of your Mercury teammates sat down with us and just started telling stories. Thanks for that day and for your stories.

This is absolutely amazing! What a great channel.

After that TdF stare and race i stopped watching cycling. Then I returned few years later. Cool memories

What an awesome story teller, Chris. Thank you for your insights. You had such a lengthy career in cycling, I enjoy your stories. At 24:34, you say "everybody at this moment in the sport throughout my beliefs is guilty of one thing or another... you were doing it yourself" That includes you, and might be construed as admitting to doping. Thoughts?

Always loved watching you race, all heart!

Thanks Chris. Inside info was great and love your attitude on the sport as a whole. Back then and now.

Coach, Another great video. When I saw the 29 minute length, I didn't think I could go the distance, but, man, it flew by. Lots of great detail. I never put this stage into perspective as far as historical impact on the sport, but yes, you are right about that in your thoughts in the last few minutes. Before this, I would never even consider the idea of "thanking" these guys in a way, but I would surely thank the cycling gods for what transpired here, and the fallout that came from it. Those of us who believe in the sport and the ideal of clean racing need to understand that it has to take a stage like this and all the intricate backstories involved to create the domino effect that eventually changed the landscape of cycling, and for that all of us who believe in the ideal of clean cycling can't help BUT be thankful. The end result is worth it. If not for something so massively distasteful, real change cannot happen. Also, great stuff on Cadel and what it was like working for him and just what surviving that day was like. Much respect. Always love your videos. More stories Captain!!!

If you think CH is entertaining here, you should to get the privilege of spending hours with him traveling during a stage race. Better than you can imagine.

Love your commentary and perspective on this stage. It was definitely needed for the sport. Watching it at the time, it was an amazing spectacle and afterwards it did have the effect of forcing the sport to get more serious about trying to clean itself up. The tactics and grit on that stage were incredible despite the taint.

Very cool to hear this story from the "inside". Watched the stage and remember it very clearly, epic!

Great perspective Chris. People need to talk about this. Thanks!

I think "Floyd tested positive" is a bit of an understatement, I imagine he broke the test. He probably went to his doctor the night before and said: "give me everything you got"

Loved your insight ! It is an amazing stage ! One of the most exciting IMO

Man, what a story! I'll never forget that stage (and the day before), but your point of view and story telling was epic, I gotta go back and watch it again now!