Originally published Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Cycling | Lance Armstrong comeback might affect Alberto Contador's future

If American Lance Armstrong joins the Astana team for his comeback, then Alberto Contador is ready to leave. "I think I've earned the right...

By The Associated Press and The New York Times

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Alberto Contador

MADRID, Spain — If American Lance Armstrong joins the Astana team for his comeback, then Alberto Contador is ready to leave.

"I think I've earned the right to be the leader of a team, without having to fight for my place," the Spanish rider said Tuesday. "And with Armstrong, some difficult situations could arise in which the team would put him first and that would hurt me."

Contador, the 2007 Tour de France and 2008 Giro d'Italia champion, won the Spanish Vuelta on Sunday.

"My intention is to stay [at Astana] because I have a contract until 2010, but I have already received a good number of offers from other teams," he said.

Armstrong announced this month he is returning to cycling after three years in retirement and would attempt to win the Tour de France an eighth time.

Astana team leader Johan Bruyneel was Armstrong's team director for all seven of his Tour victories, and the two are close friends.

Mike Rann, South Australia premier, announced Armstrong will compete in the six-stage Tour Down Under, which starts Jan. 20.

Note

• After two weeks of secrecy, Armstrong will release today or Thursday the details of his comeback. At least two elements have been confirmed by The New York Times.

Don Catlin, considered an anti-doping expert, has been hired to head Armstrong's personal anti-doping program, said Catlin's son, Oliver Catlin. The younger Catlin is chief executive of the Anti-Doping Sciences Institute, a testing and consulting company; Don Catlin is its chief science officer.

Armstrong has been dogged by doping suspicions, although he has vehemently denied ever using performance-enhancing drugs.

Armstrong has made major moves toward forming a team for riders younger than 23.

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