Alberto Contador on Lance Armstrong and Tour de France in El Pais

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From the moment Lance Armstrong announced he was returning to cycling and rejoining forces with Johan Bruyneel and thus riding for Astana this year, Alberto Contador was in an uncomfortable position. The Spaniard had to compete on his own team for the No. 1 spot a year after winning two of the three grand tours and missing out on defending his 2007 Tour de France win only because Astana was banned from the race in 2008.

So the very public uncomfortableness between the pair for three weeks was undeniable though Armstrong did not shirk his cycling duties and when it was clear Contador would win the race, Armstrong rode hard and well enough to finish third.

There weren’t warm handshakes or hugs between the teammates on the podium last Sunday and Contador surely was dealt a tough team hand to play -- how do you interpose yourself between a legend and the man who helped make him one? -- but the public Armstrong bashing Contador has engaged in since leaving France seems pointless and is likely focusing Armstrong very clearly for another run at Contador next year when Armstrong leads the new Team Radio Shack and Contador rides for whoever wins his services.

On several cycling sites you can find this translation of an article in the Spanish daily El Pais and Contador complains that Armstrong dominated meals, stole the use of team cars and even intercepted a water bottle meant for Contador once. Honestly, it makes Contador seem like a sore winner and something of a whiner. After all, Contador has forever the yellow jersey from 2009. Armstrong and Astana couldn’t have treated him that badly then. You don’t win the Tour without assistance from a team.

Meanwhile Armstrong has been updating his Twitter from a beach in Abacos. He seems to be having more fun this week after the three-week race than the winner.

-- Diane Pucin