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Contador - I will never admire Armstrong (how do you say punk in spanish?)
CNN ^ | 7/27/2009 | Staff

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 ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: athletes; lancearmstrong; oopers; teamusa; tourdefrance
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To: Red in Blue PA

Sounds like the gentleman has challenged his rival. Lance has a new team next year.


41 posted on 07/27/2009 3:15:23 PM PDT by jimfree (Freep and ye shall find!)
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To: jyoders19
And no, I don’t believe the doping rumors, so don’t accuse me of advocating that by pointing out his flaws.

He does take synthetic testosterone to replace what he has lost, which to some will always ba an asterisk...

42 posted on 07/27/2009 3:16:32 PM PDT by frithguild (Can I drill your head now?)
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To: dancusa

Maricón indicates he is gay.


43 posted on 07/27/2009 3:16:38 PM PDT by La Lydia
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To: Red in Blue PA
Reminds me of: "The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came here for." - Alain Bernard French Swim Team prior to their historic defeat

44 posted on 07/27/2009 3:17:30 PM PDT by TSgt (I long for Norman Rockwell's America.)
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To: jyoders19

Times when Lance respected his competitors:
1. Waiting on Jan Ulrich when he went over the rail and off the road.
2. Hugging Mark Cavendish after one of Cav’s stage wins.
3. Having Cavendish and Hincapie in one of his videos and showing them all props.
4. Riding tactically in support of Contador in all respects once Contator was obviously the stronger rider even though Contador was regularly disobeying Bruyneel.
5. Freely crediting Schleck and Contador as the stronger, faster riders.

You can criticize him for his family life if you want, but not respecting competitors doesn’t seem like a valid charge.


45 posted on 07/27/2009 3:17:57 PM PDT by Buckhead
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To: jyoders19
Contador beat Armstrong fair and square. He can say whatever he wants.

Yes, he CAN. But he also has an opportunity to promote good sportsmanship and personal humility instead. So which choice does he make? Vanity and self-congratulation? Or magnanimity and self-effacement, maybe even gratitude to the Creator who endowed him with such phenomenal gifts?

46 posted on 07/27/2009 3:18:01 PM PDT by IronJack (=)
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To: La Lydia

LOL, I suspected you would. A little bit cruder connotation, perhaps, but I think it fits - it’s the first word that came to my mind, at least! ;-)


47 posted on 07/27/2009 3:18:33 PM PDT by leilani (Tagline? What tagline?)
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To: jyoders19
I agree. No matter who Armstrong gets to join him, he cannot out-climb or time trial those two; where the race is won or lost.
48 posted on 07/27/2009 3:20:37 PM PDT by SeaHawkFan
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To: frithguild

Right now, nobody can climb with Contador. He is awesome.

Lance circa 2004 would have been up to the challenge, though. I don’t think 2010 Lance will be.

Torch has been passed.


49 posted on 07/27/2009 3:22:35 PM PDT by Retired Greyhound
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To: IronJack

Armstrong never once respected Contador. The attempt to take over his team was blatant. Yeah, he might’ve done all those things listed before for OTHER riders, but never for Contador. Armstrong’s return was an attempt to take Astana away from Contador. Contador was right to see it as that and responded accordingly. Armstrong’s lukewarm congratulation to Contador and hearty congratulation to Schleck was proof positive of that. If someone was trying to take your team from you you’d feel the same way. Armstrong only raced in support after it was obvious that Contador could outclimb him.


50 posted on 07/27/2009 3:22:41 PM PDT by jyoders19
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To: Jeff Head

Lance is sour because Contador made a “freelance” acceleration in the Pyranees that put him ahead of Lance by 2 seconds - and it put the Yellow Jersey even for one day out of Lance’s reach.

Also - the day Contador basically iced the win - Armstrong announces is is creating a new team with Radio Shack sponsorship. So who is petty here?

Besides Lance is a flaming lib. Contador is a hunter - he celebrates winning a stage with a pistol shot motion...


51 posted on 07/27/2009 3:23:12 PM PDT by frithguild (Can I drill your head now?)
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To: jyoders19

How do you say “Lance the juicer” in Spanie?

I like Greg LeMond and Floyd Landis who was not juicing. Landis got screwed.

Armstrong is an unpleasant person. Dumped his wife for a lib. Dumped his lib grilfriend when he got cancer. Threatens to sue people all the time.


52 posted on 07/27/2009 3:23:48 PM PDT by Frantzie (Obama DeathCare - Sending Seniors to the Death Camps. Obama = Racist Dope)
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To: frithguild
Agreed, Contador is an animal in the mountains. Armstrong stunk up the joint in the time trails and in the mountains.

IMO Armstrong needs to retire, just like Brett needs to retire from the NFL.

Armstrong might come with a team next year, but he will still be beaten like a rented mule by more than one rider.

Armstrong should have taken his 7 TDF wins and rode off into the sunset.

53 posted on 07/27/2009 3:23:51 PM PDT by Recon by Fire (Obama is a dude posing as another dude, who is impersonating another dude!)
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To: jyoders19
Armstrong never once respected Contador.

Bingo!

54 posted on 07/27/2009 3:26:01 PM PDT by frithguild (Can I drill your head now?)
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To: Red in Blue PA
Alberto is a punk. In a segment featuring Alberto, he stated quite clearly that Lance was very inspirational in his recovery very early in his racing career. I guess fame has given him very selective memory. Lance in my eyes has always been humble and gracious towards others
55 posted on 07/27/2009 3:27:40 PM PDT by BornToBeAmerican (We the people, ..... never)
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To: BornToBeAmerican
Lance in my eyes has always been humble and gracious towards others

Yeah - especially when he tried to steal Astana out from under Contador.

56 posted on 07/27/2009 3:29:39 PM PDT by frithguild (Can I drill your head now?)
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To: Northern Yankee

As an athlete, Armstrong has few peers. However, he is not a nice guy. I ride bikes with a the owner of a local popular bike shop and organizer of a local bike race as well, who has commented about Armstrong and Floyd Landis. When asked about who he’d like to have attend his race, he immediately said Landis, known as the nicest guy in the sport. He’d hate to have Lance show up, since he’s a PITA and looking out for Number 1; he doesn’t make many friends.


57 posted on 07/27/2009 3:30:19 PM PDT by fred4prez
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To: BornToBeAmerican

Armsrtrong humble? You’ve got to be kidding.


58 posted on 07/27/2009 3:31:01 PM PDT by SeaHawkFan
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To: Red in Blue PA

I have alot more respect for Lance than Alberto who has shown he doesn’t care for being a (TEAM) member. I’m glad Lance will have his own team next year & I hope he leaves Alberto in his wake.


59 posted on 07/27/2009 3:31:25 PM PDT by jrcats (Well, I never thought there was going to be a worse President than Carter but Obama has him beat.)
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To: fred4prez

Yep... I’ll take a nice guy anyday over a prima donna.


60 posted on 07/27/2009 3:32:44 PM PDT by Northern Yankee (Freedom Needs A Soldier)
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