Horner fan, from Velo News online...

Chris Horner earns No. 1 start bib at Tour of Basque Country

• By Andrew Hood
• Published Mar 30th 2011 2:08 PM UTC — Updated Mar 30th 2011 4:04 PM UTC

Defending champion Chris Horner (RadioShack) will line up with the No. 1 start bib for the upcoming Vuelta al País Vasco (April 4-9) in what should see a record number of North Americans start the six-day race.

Horner wants another txapela for his collection. (PIC from VeloNews online)

Horner made his season debut earlier this month with a solid fourth-place outing at the Volta a Catalunya and promises to be ready to defend his title at the Euskal Herriko Itzulia, as the race is called in the regional Basque language.

Officials released the preliminary start list that would be the envy of any race organizer.

Topping the list is Horner, who earned the most important European victory of his career last year with a combination of wily tactics and excellent form.

Read on here.