Two-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador said Monday that 2009 has been his best year ever, as he received the award from the International Cycling Union (UCI) as this season's top rider. "I think this has been my best year ever, in terms of results rather than other circumstances, given the constant tension and pressure to which I was submitted," said the Spaniard. He was apparently referring to his tense relationship with his Astana teammate, Lance Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France winner who came out of retirement to take part in this year's race. Armstrong left Astana this year for the RadioShack ... Read Full Story

PISA, Italy (Reuters) - Tour de France champion Alberto Contador has not ruled out the possibility of being a team mate of Lance Armstrong again despite their difficult relationship when both were with Astana. Seven-times Tour winner Armstrong has formed a new team, RadioShack, for next season while Spaniard Contador will remain with Kazakh-funded Astana in 2010, despite threatening to leave and opening negotiations with several other leading teams. Contador and Armstrong clashed over the role of team leader at Astana during this year's Tour de France. However, Contador said on Friday he had put their differences behind him. "I want to think about ... Read Full Story

Lance Armstrong is going to gave to get past Alberto Contador if he hopes to pull off the miracle and win another Tour de France - and as of today, that doesn't seem very likely. Race leader Alberto Contador of Spain and Astana rides towards victory on stage 18 of the 2009 Tour de France, a 40km Time Trial around Lake Annecy, on July 7, 2009 in Annecy, France. (Getty Images) more pics » "Now I am more comfortable going ahead toward the GC," Alberto Contador said after the today's stage of the race. "This stage victory is very important for the overall. I ... Read Full Story

Johan Bruyneel, manager of the new RadioShack team headlined by Lance Armstrong, has finalized a 2010 team roster that includes 16 riders from 16 countries. "It is a well balanced team," Bruyneel said of the team that will gather for the first time in Tucson, Arizona, in the second week of December. "We have experienced riders - with some of them I worked already many years in my former teams - but we also have young talents who can develop in the perfect environment. "I am happy that our sponsors want to invest in the future of cycling. Our main goal will be the ... Read Full Story

Kazakhstan's state sovereign fund pledged $22 million in financial backing to the Astana cycling team Friday, ensuring the squad stays alive and Tour de France champion Alberto Contador remains in its ranks. Astana's current racing license is due to expire at the end of next year, but recurring delays in paying salaries to riders have prompted the International Cycling Union to demand guarantees on the team's financial viability by this week. "Samruk-Kazyna (state holding) has provided UCI with a guarantee of financial backing worth euro15 million ($22 million) for this season," Kazakh Cycling Federation deputy president Nikolai Proskurin said. About $3.7 million has been ... Read Full Story