Sep 10, 2008
Contador Would Welcome Armstrong
Alberto Contador would support having Lance join the Astana team.
Spaniard Contador said: “It’s good news for cycling. We would be delighted to welcome him with open arms at Astana.
“It’s news that awakes your attention and will create a lot of interest.”
The Contador relationship would be heabily scrutinized since the Astana team was not really hurting for a Stage Race leader. Contador won the Tour de France in 2007 and would have been a major contender for 2008 is the Astana Team was invited to the Tour by the ASO. So Contador will not be able to come into the Tour in 2009 as a clear team leader now that he has to share responsibilities with Armstrong. But, Contador and the rest of the team know that the addition of Lance Armstrong makes the team a formidable force for 2009.
Bruyneel played down the prospect of conflict between Armstrong and Contador if the American joined.
“If Lance were not at a good enough level to win the Tour, knowing him as well as I do, I’m sure he would be happy to help Alberto do that,” he claimed.
Contador, 25, currently racing in the Tour of Spain, admitted: “If both of us want to win the Tour then, yes, that will create some complications, but now is not the time to think about that.”
At least Contador is young where he won’t feel like he is wasting a chance at another Tour win. But this will be the relationship to watch in 2009.