Contador says he doesn't like Armstrong

NEW YORK, July 28 (UPI) -- Tour de France winner Alberto Contador of Spain was quoted by the New York Times as saying he does not like teammate Lance Armstrong.

"My relationship with Lance is zero," Contador said at a news conference the day after winning his second Tour. "He is a great rider and has completed a great race, but it is another thing on a personal level, where I have never had great admiration for him and I never will."

Contador and Armstrong, a seven-time Tour winner who was third this year, fought to be the leader of Astana. Both riders are leaving the team at the end of this season.

Armstrong, 37, will ride for the new Team RadioShack, based in the United States. Contador, 26, wants to sign with another team.

The two became teammates when Armstrong joined Astana after coming out of a 3 1/2-year retirement in the fall. Armstrong said he and Contador were never that close, mostly because of the language barrier.

Armstrong said Monday night on his Twitter page that Contador could not have won without his teammates.

"Seeing these comments from AC. If I were him I'd drop this drivel and start thanking his team," Armstrong wrote.