Johannesburg, Aug 25(ANI): Alberto Contador, who hesitantly partnered Lance Armstrong during the first year of the American legend's comeback in 2009, has paid tribute to him, describing him as a supreme athlete.
However, Contador refused to comment on the lifetime ban imposed on Armstrong by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for allegedly consuming performance-enhancing drugs on his way to winning seven Tour de France titles.
"I'm not up to date on the case. Whenever I'm competing at a major race I try to keep these things to the margin and stay completely focused on the race," Sports24 quoted Contador, as saying.
Contador and Armstrong were bitter teammates during the seven-time Tour champion's return to cycling after a three-year hiatus, with Contador eventually emerging as the team No. 1 on his way to winning the Tour that season.
Still, the Spanish cyclist, who was stripped of his 2010 Tour victory because of drug charges, was polite and respectful in describing the 40-year-old Armstrong's abilities on the bike after having once described their relationship as 'zero'.
"I think he was a cyclist who always showed such strength, great intelligence and spectacular physical conditioning," Contador said. (ANI)
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