Contador to Armstrong: I am Astana’s top rider

Alberto Contador said he might leave the Astana cycling team if it would hire returning champion Lance Armstrong for the 2009 Tour de France. Contador, who won this year’s Vuelta a Espana to complete a rare grand slam win of all of the three Grand Tours, said Astana could be facing difficult situations if it would have him and Armstrong as the team’s top riders.

 

“It would be quite complicated (to have Armstrong in the team),” Contador said after reports came out that Astana was working to get Armstrong. “I think I’ve earned the right to be the leader of a team without having to fight for it,” he said. “And with Armstrong, there could be difficult situations in which the team would put him first and that would harm me.”

 

Although without an official word yet from Astana, Armstrong’s possible comeback to professional cycling was believed to be through the Luxembourg-based Team Astana where his former manager Joahn Bruyneel is currently the team director.

 

Bruyneel, who served as director of the US Postal and Discovery Channel teams during the seven-feat Tour de France victories of Lance Armstrong, said he would “not allow” Armstrong to join another team if he were to return to professional cycling.

 

“Bruyneel believes I can deliver results,” Contador, who is only the fifth cyclist to win a cycling grand slam, said. “But it can’t be denied that he made his name because of his ties to Armstrong.”

 

“I will base my decision on what he says. I intend to stay because I am under contract until 2010, but I have received a good many offers from other teams,” Contador during Tuesday’s awarding ceremonies of the Vuelta.

 

Tuesday’s remarks were in contrast with what Contador had said in the week when Armstrong surprised the cycling world with his comeback announcement: “I would welcome [Armstrong] into the team with open arms because a cyclist like him would fit in anywhere. I have always had the highest regard for him and would be delighted to be in the same team as him.”

AP

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