Tour of Spain champion Chris Horner left hospital in jubilant mood on Wednesday (Italian time) following a training crash with a car last week.

The American Lampre rider was taken to hospital on Friday after being involved in a crash while riding around Lake Como in northern Italy.

The 42-year-old, the oldest ever Grand Tour winner when claiming victory at the Vuelta in September, suffered a punctured lung and four broken ribs in the accident.

But he has now left the ­Lecco hospital and gone back to his home in Como.

With a best Tour de France finish of ninth in 2010, Horner finally delivered on his Grand Tour potential by winning last year's Vuelta a Espana just before turning 42.