Astana one big happy family for Lance
Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong on Thursday played down any rumours of internal strife in his new cycling team Astana.
On his comeback from retirement, Armstrong joined the Astana team of Spaniard Alberto Contador, who recently became the fifth cyclist in history to secure victories in all three major Tours winning the 2007 Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia and Tour of Spain in 2008.
Despite rumours of internal competition and strife - it was recently reported that Contador was unhappy at his possible status being upset - the American was keen to show, at least, that Astana is one big happy family.
The 37-year-old suggested he would be happy to race as the team's second or third-in command if circumstances demanded it.
"I've been around longer been racing professionally since 1992, when Alberto was, what, ten," Armstrong said in a teleconference from Tenerife in Spain where he is training with Astana.
"I think Alberto has obviously a tremendous amount of natural talent, and can read a race.
"I came into this completely open, loyal to Alberto, the team and the unwritten laws of cycling.
"I have a lot of respect for this man. I can't say it any simpler. This guy is the best cyclist in the world."
He added: "I came here (Astana) as a volunteer. I'm racing and training every day for free. If my global initiative is successful and I finish second, eighth or ninth on the Tour, then that's fine by me."
AFP
(China Daily 12/06/2008 page12)
