Posted on 07/27/2009 2:50:12 PM PDT by Red in Blue PA
(CNN) -- Tour de France winner Alberto Contador has launched a stinging attack on Astana teammate Lance Armstrong after returning as a hero to his native town of Pinto near Madrid.
Lance Armstrong (right) looks on after Alberto Contador is handed the Tour de France trophy in Paris.
Contador told a news conference that relations between the two riders were tense throughout the race, making the atmosphere very difficult for the team as a whole.
Although not giving specific reasons why, Contador admitted the situation has affected his relationship with the American.
"My relationship with Lance Armstrong is non-existent. Even if he is a great champion, I have never had admiration for him and I never will," the 26-year-old Spaniard admitted.
"It was a delicate situation, very tense, the two riders who had most weight on the team did not have an easy relationship and that puts the rest of the technical staff and the riders in an uncomfortable position," he added.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Alberto Who?
“gringo” ;)
Well that makes next years interesting...Lance will have a team built solely for him. Can’t wait!
He has a promising career in the obama administration should he want it.
What a worthless twerp! No class at all.
Contador better be on his toes next year. With Lance’s new team, things’ll be a little different...
Sounds like it will be a LOT different:
After all but conceding victory last Tuesday — “Alberto’s too super” — he added this: “Next year, different story.”
When Astana’s Johan Bruyneel and some of the Tour’s peerless riders (I’m hoping Hincapie and Leipheimer are among them) take a hike to Lance’s new Radio Shack team, let’s see who’s left to help Alberto next year.
I’m not going to defend this guy, but I’m not entirely convinced Armstrong not at least a little bit of prima donna. Now, I don’t believe he ever doped, and I admire his triumph over and comeback from cancer, but let’s remember, he’s a thoroughbred leftist. And, he’s the worst kind. He won’t take a directly liberal stance, but he sends signals in a very covert way about where his political loyalties lay.
I honestly don’t see it that way. Contador beat Armstrong fair and square. He can say whatever he wants. For people - like the Spanish - who grew up dreaming of winning the Giro and the Vuelta it’s not uncommon for them to have never admired Armstrong. The fact of the matter is the Texan created a huge amount of bad will with both the Spanish and the Italians by training year-round for the Tour de France and ignoring those countries great touring races. Contador is not uncommon in feeling slighted by Armstrong in that. Plus, he has two more Tour de France wins than Armstrong had at his age and just beat him heads up. To the VICTOR go the spoils.
What’s up, Berto? Did Lance’s ancestors kill your relatives at San Jacinto or something?
Exactly, red in blue. Also note that Contador enjoys hunting when he’s not beating Armstrong in races. Could you imagine Armstrong ever saying that?
Hey Alberto, get back to us when you win the next five Tours...in a row. ‘Til then, shut your pie hole about your lack of respect for Armstrong.
This will just fire up Lance even more. If he can avoid injury, maybe there’s a better shot at him winning.
Remember, he broke his collarbone in March.
He’s got more Giro and Vuelta wins than Armstrong and two more TdF victories than Lance had at his age. I’d say the chances are good he could eclipse Armstrong.
In Spanish: patán.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.