A day after 26-year-old Alberto Contador claimed his second victory on the Tour De France, the Spaniard admitted it wasn’t an easy ride at all. “It has been an especially difficult Tour for me, but I savour it and it is more special because of it,” Contador said. “Before leaving, I knew I had to be ready both physically and mentally. At the end of each stage, I said, ‘one day less’. There were tensions, but the situation has normalised. And I am very happy with the result.”

Meanwhile, Lance Armstrong, who finished third on his comeback, acknowledged Contador’s superiority. “Contador is that good, so I don’t see how I would have been higher than that, even in the other years,” said Armstrong, who won the Tour seven consecutive times from 1999 to 2005 before retiring. “I think his performance this year would have beaten my performances in ’01 and ’04 and ’05.” According to Armstrong, Contador has the potential to become a five-time Tour winner. “Well, he’s that good and he’s not that old, so you can do the math,” he said.

The Spaniard’s future is still unclear. But whatever he decides, the rivalry will re-ignite in 2010. “I’m going left, he’s going right,” Armstrong said. “See you on the start line next year.”