The prime minister Spain personally congratulated 2009 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador today in Madrid, saying he was at a level far above the rest.
“He has no rival, even if that is hard to accept for some,” Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told reporters after receiving Contador at his official residence in Madrid to celebrate the victory.
Contador took this, his second Tour crown, by 4 minutes and 11 seconds over Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck and a further minute and 13 seconds faster than seven-time winner and teammate Lance Armstrong.
“I watched the final moments of several stages of this Tour and I have to say that you managed to get my pulse racing, as you did for many Spaniards,” added the politician.
After the Tour was completed, Contador lashed out at Armstrong and painted the picture of a divided camp, where he was left to fend for himself to achieve his success.
“My relationship with Lance is non-existent. Even if he is a great champion, I have never had admiration for him and I never will,” Contador told reporters in Madrid on Monday.
Armstrong hit back, in 140 characters or less, on Twitter by saying Contador has “lots to learn”.
“A champion is also measured on how much he respects his teammates and opponents. There is no ‘i’ in ‘team’,” added the former Tour champion.