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 ...
Sounds like the gentleman has challenged his rival. Lance has a new team next year.
He does take synthetic testosterone to replace what he has lost, which to some will always ba an asterisk...
Maricón indicates he is gay.
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.
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?
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! ;-)
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
Bingo!
Yeah - especially when he tried to steal Astana out from under Contador.
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.
Armsrtrong humble? You’ve got to be kidding.
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.
Yep... I’ll take a nice guy anyday over a prima donna.
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.