Sierra Blogging Post Archives

The Tour de France may be over, but the drama is just beginning. Winner Alberto Contador, who happens to be Lance Armstrong's teammate on the Astana team, is speaking to the media about the tense relations between himself and the seven-time Tour de France winner.

Apparently the two do not get along and caused quite a bit of tension for fellow riders during the Tour. Contador basically flat out said that he does not like Armstrong. What he doesn't say, however, is why.


"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.

Lance took to his Twitter account to respond to Contador's statement. He said: "Seeing these comments from AC, if I were him I'd drop this drivel and start thanking his team. Without them, he doesn't win. A champion is also measured on how much he respects his teammates and opponents. There is no 'I' in team'. What did I say in March? Lots to learn."

What do you think? Was there not enough room on the Astana team for two champions as big as Contador and Armstrong? Were neither capable of the sportsmanship you'd hope to see from athletes of this caliber?

Armstrong won't be riding with the Astana team again. He's leaving at the end of the season, along with team chief Johan Bruyneel. I wonder if that has anything to do with the tension between him and the new champion. Maybe I was blessed to always have wise athletic coaches, but if there's one thing I've learned from sports it's to respect your teammates and your competitors - whether they're giving you a run for your money or not.