“If I were him, I’d drop this drivel and start thanking his team. Without them, he doesn’t win.”
–Lance Armstrong, responding to Astana teammate and 2009 Tour de France champion Alberto Contador. On Monday, the day after the race ended, the Spanish champion told reporters that he “never had great admiration” for Armstrong and “never will.” The two battled for the role of team leader during the three-week race, and when Contador pulled ahead in the mountain stages, Armstrong retreated to a support role and finished third. Now that Armstrong has announced he will be leaving Khazakstan-based Astana to form his own squad backed by Radio Shack , the rival teammates are coming clean with their true feelings. Contador has yet to sign with a new squad, and although clearly talented, he seems to have forgotten there’s no “I” in “team.” –Jessica Shambora