Contador downplays Armstrong tour feud

LIMOGES, France – Alberto Contador is playing down tensions between him and Lance Armstrong at the Tour de France, but the issue over the lack of leadership within Astana’s team will continue so long as the two former champions are fighting for the yellow jersey.

On Sunday, the 37-year-old Armstrong told French television that relations between him and the 26-year-old Spanish rider are strained after just nine stages of the showcase race.

Responding to the Texan’s comments during Monday’s rest day in Limoges, Contador said: “It’s a subject which is starting to tire me a bit, it’s too repetitive.

For me there are no tensions, I am totally relaxed and focused on the competition.” Armstrong, a seven-time straight Tour champion between 1999-2005, is aiming for an improbable eighth win. Contador, unable to defend his 2007 title last year because of Astana’s team ban, is desperate to add to his growing legacy.

He has already won all three Grand Tours of France, Italy and Spain – something Armstrong has not achieved.

Outwardly, neither rider admits they want to fight the other, and both have claimed they are prepared to sacrifice individual ambition for the greater good of the Astana team.

“We eat together at the table and are together on the bus. Often the tension seems higher from the outside than it really is,” Contador said.

“The Tour is a tiring race and you can’t waste energy on things that don’t concern the race.” But undoubtedly both share the same burning inner ambition, and clearly want to win the Tour again.

Ahead of Tuesday’s 10th stage, Contador was in second place, two seconds ahead of Armstrong in third place. Rinaldo Nocentini of Italy held the yellow jersey overnight, six seconds ahead of Contador.

Those positions seem unlikely to change on three largely flat stages from Tuesday to Thursday, or on Friday’s moderately hard mountain stage – so the Tour’s most intriguing duel should take a back seat at least for a few days. (AP)