Contador may quit Astana over Armstrong

Eurosport - Wed, 24 Sep 08:37:00 2008

Alberto Contador, who won the Vuelta a Espana on Sunday, hinted he may quit the Astana team if it hires Lance Armstrong.

CYCLING. Alberto Contador. Vuelta 2008. Foto/EFE - 0

The veteran has announced he is coming out of retirement to seek a record eighth Tour de France title.

The Spaniard was asked by sports newspaper As how he would feel if the American joins Astana.

"It would be quite complicated. 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."

The 37-year-old Armstrong has rocked the world of cycling by planning an audacious comeback with a view to winning a record eighth Tour de France next summer.

Astana boss Joahn Bruyneel, who managed Armstrong as director of the US Postal and Discovery Channel teams, said recently he would "not allow" the American to join another team.

But Contador said he may quit the Kazakh-backed, Luxembourg-based team if it hires the American, who is set to return at January's Tour Down Under in Australia.

"I will base my decision on what he says," the Spaniard said. "I intend to stay because I am under contract until 2010, but I have received a good many offers from other teams.

"Bruyneel believes I can deliver results, but it can't be denied that he made his name because of his ties to Armstrong."

Contador won the Vuelta on Sunday to add to his victories in the 2007 Tour de France winner and this year's Giro d'Italia.

He is now only the fifth rider in history, and the first ever Spaniard, to win all three of cycling's three-week Tours.

His comments to As contrast with those he made immediately after Armstrong's announcement.

"I would welcome [Armstrong] into the team with open arms because a cyclist like him would fit in anywhere," Contador said two weeks before.

"I have always had the highest regard for him and would be delighted to be in the same team as him."

AFP

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  1. "Tamerair-Comment 40" you should be tested for drugs yourself. I'm assuming that you are American and that blind patriotism is making you write such fantasy.

    Time moves on, even for Lance Armstrong. He will never win another of the majors, regardless of determination; and I take my hat off to him hugely for what he has accomplished this tour. It is truely incredible.

    From nighirst, on Sat 25 Jul 5:46PM

  2. Armstrong will win the tour, he is more determined than ever, he is only doing this to stop doping bs, he wants to show the world he kicked everyone's @#$%, one thing you have to pay attention is that Armstrong has a very "sick determination" to win. It is all about mental power, when you have the mental power your body will carry you over.

    From Tamerair, on Thu 25 Sep 5:39PM

  3. You can't hude Armstrong on his past results. He's 3 years older and will be 38 in 2009. Nature will deal with him. This could weel be the most overhyped failure of a comeback.
    People are assuming taht he is going to just take it up from wherre he left off.Copntador willl leave him sitting in the mountains, as he is just coming into his prime.

    From Reyros, on Thu 25 Sep 10:56AM

  4. Kloden, Armstrong, Contador, and Leipheimer. I hear the Blue Train coming around the bend.

    From Reyros, on Thu 25 Sep 9:04AM

  5. also imo andy shleck and robert gesink = more talented then contador, in a few years these 2 will @#$% over contador.

    From timvandenheuvel, on Thu 25 Sep 7:10AM

  6. meh kloden is a super domestique these days anyway, the day he challenges for GT glory are over.
    and lol @ schleck being a long way off... asif. he was really impressive in the tour, next season with a team riding for him, should be awesome.
    'HE IS THE BEST' = 4 words mate ;)

    From timvandenheuvel, on Thu 25 Sep 7:09AM

  7. Eveybody is talking about Contador & Lance,but what's going to happeng to Mr.California(Levi)or Mr.Germany(Kloden)what about them specially Kloden is he's still riding for Astana when Lance come back?

    From Alex, on Wed 24 Sep 9:29PM

  8. Contador is better cyclist than Basso, better climber, better time trialist, he could speed up on bigest mounting to 30km/h
    one word

    HE IS THE BEST

    From bobcha78, on Wed 24 Sep 9:10PM

  9. Haha. Contador can't time trial!? if i remember right he was fourth in beijing! And those who criticize Contadors Giro win might not heard the rumor that he was only week before start of giro on the beach when Bryneel called him to race. So not so bad at all in my mind.

    From sambody91, on Wed 24 Sep 7:34PM

  10. ...yeah i tend to agree thatBasso is definitely one too watch whe he makes his comeback - maybe not in 2009 but definitely 2010. But I wouldn't be so sure Liquigas get an invite to TDF - there seems to be a lot of new teams popping up (Cervelo Test, Bettini's supposedly new french team etc etc) - but it could be interesting.... think of the tour next year: Armstrong, Contador, Sastre, Schleck bros, Evans, Basso, Leipheimer, Valverde (lol) - could be one hell of a race! :o)

    From deathbybono, on Wed 24 Sep 7:11PM

  11. I would have to agree with chem452002, If Basso has any support at all on his new team he could make Contador and Armstrongs Tour objectives very difficult.

    From Reyros, on Wed 24 Sep 6:15PM

  12. Lance is all about Lance. He'll never support Contador. Contador should leave and go to CSC. Frank Schleck will never be a tour winner. Andy's a long ways off yet. With Contador, they have tour winner.

    Lance's time has come and gone. This just show's his selfishness. About cancer??? What a bunch of BS. It's all about Lance.

    From RichardW, on Wed 24 Sep 5:36PM

  13. I am not worried about Contador. He won the tour cuz Rasmusen got kicked out. On the GIRO, even some average cyclists were better than him in the mountains. He won the Giro by minimizing his time loss. Not Lance style exactly. Lance has class. Armstrongs worst tour was 2003, even after crashing he made them look like amateurs. And in Vuelta, Leipeimer kicked Contadors @#$% on the time trial, what do you think Lance would do to him? Lance is saying he feels good on the bike. And who were Contadors rivals anyway ?who is one of the biggest names on the tour these days? ya Cadel Evans. I am not dissing Cadel but lets admit he aint a mountain goat.

    But I am worried about one rider who can make Armstrongs life difficult. That is IVAN BASSO. Even without "the juice" Basso is great climber and he is good at using other teams.

    From chem452002, on Wed 24 Sep 4:02PM

  14. if i was Alberto, yes i would be annoyed, but i would want to learn from arguably the best cyclist of the past 20 years

    IF they work together Conta can get 2nd and polka dots

    while lance gets yello

    and levi can still get 3rd/4th

    how good would it be, an all Astana podium

    Contador needs to be brought down to earth, his vuelta win was a little jammy at best

    From Philip, on Wed 24 Sep 3:50PM

  15. I hope there's a good supply of handbags in Khazakstan, sounds like Astana are going to need them

    From Reefgirl, on Wed 24 Sep 1:36PM

  16. CI M buddy i highly doubt contador will ride 3 grand tours, and even if he did, no way would he be able to compete in what is gonna be a hell of a tour (Armstrong, Basso(?), Sastre(?), Menchov, Evans, Gesink, Valverde, Kohl, Schleck Brothers (especially Andy) and a few other strong contenders) and then ride and win the other 2 GTs with ease... mate what are u smoking? and dare i say it sounds like sum good s**t, maybe u could hook me up :P

    Anyways doubtful they will form a new team, just too many obstacles, I mean sure it is easy to say they will form their own team, but they need at least 20 riders one would think, and i mean their time frame to sign these riders is limited... keeping in mind they want a strong team to support lance, and im sure all the riders they have in mind are binded to contracts, and who is to say they will go and diminish their relationship with their present team for one season with lance, that is total bs!!

    ANyways I agree Berto bad mouthing levi is just @#$%, he didn'tr deserve that... and people are overrating this vuelta performance by berto... this was a fatigued field of riders... and the Menchov Vuelta of 2007 rode rings around berto's performance at this years vuelta.

    Also I like the idea (If contador does leave...) of him riding for euskatel, such a strong team, seems to me missing a reaally top GT rider (no disrespect to sanchez or Anton I just don't ever see them winning a GT, maybe Anton... but at best the vuelta)

    From timvandenheuvel, on Wed 24 Sep 12:24PM

  17. I agree with Chad W. Lance will form the livestrong team. a strong chance that Bruyneel & trek bikes will be pulled in. Astana will be left intact but there will be some active recruitment of a strong team. I am sure that this will include Levi at the very least and maybe some of the other Disco's. Watching a TDF with the battle between Contador & Armstrong will really make it a hot event next year. Contador will of course mop up the other two grand Tours. correct me if I'm wrong but didnt Lance have a part involvement in the licence for the the Discovery Team?

    From CI M, on Wed 24 Sep 8:20AM

  18. Well epoche if Contador signs with CSC then what happens to the Schleck brothers they ride in support of Contador I don't think so.

    From Reyros, on Wed 24 Sep 6:45AM

  19. I have news for you I don't believe Lance intends on riding for Astana. So all of you Contador fans can breath a big sigh of relief. I believe Armstrong will form his own team for 09 that might include Bruynell minus Contador. Lance blazes his own trail he is not going to ride for a Team that he does not have full control of.

    From Reyros, on Wed 24 Sep 6:42AM

  20. The most practical thing is to keep Alberto and hire Lance for 2009 TDF, but in honor of Lance Alberto needs to reject the 2009 TDF (refer to his comments "I would welcome (Armstrong) into the team with open arms because a cyclist like him would fit in anywhere," Contador said on September 10.

    "I have always had the highest regard for him and would be delighted to be in the same team as him."
    and ride Giro and Vuelta, he will be 26 years old only, then he can focus on TDF 2010 aa a sole leader. In this case Astana will benefit from this arrangement as the result could be 3 major events in the same year.

    From abdulm79, on Wed 24 Sep 4:33AM
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