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Following Alberto Contador’s revelations that his relationship with team mate Lance Armstrong became so delicate and tense that it rubbed off onto the team staff, the American has hit back saying that the Spaniard ‘has a lot to learn’.

The awkward pairing of Contador and Armstrong in the Astana team was always going to be a delicate affair to manage, but the situation worsened during the three weeks of racing with neither of the riders prepared to accept second billing.

As the race progressed Contador’s dominance on the road gave him the upper hand in the power struggle, but even so the Spaniard said after the tour;

“The situation was tense and delicate because the relationship between myself and Lance extended to the rest of the staff. On this Tour, the days in the hotel were harder than the those on the road.”

The 26 year old champion also said that his relationship with Armstrong is ‘zero’, and added “He is a great rider but it is another thing on a personal level, where I have never had great admiration for him and I never will.”

Armstrong who had praised the Spaniard after his Tour win, said that Contador should ’stop this drivel and thank his team, without them he doesn’t win’. The seven time Tour de France winner said on his Twitter feed;

“A champion is also measured on how much he respect his teammates and opponents. There is no ‘i’ in ‘team’. What did I say in March? Lots to learn. Restated.”

Contador won his second Tour de France having endured more problems in the hotel than on the road, his Tour was made more difficult he says by the constant criticism of his strategy from team mate Armstrong.

“This Tour was very difficult as you could see and although it sometimes seems easy on television it wasn’t because of other factors, the only thing I can tell you is that I will be here next year with a team that has the most secure guarantees and that is the most focused on winning this race.  There are several possibilities but what is clear is that we are totally incompatible and Armstrong will go one way and I will go the other.” Contador said after the final stage.

Despite the criticism Armstrong was quick to praise the Spaniard, saying that Contador’s performance would have beaten Armstrong’s own in his title winning years 2001, 2004 and 2005. “Contador is that good,” Armstrong said, “so I don’t see how I would have been higher than that, even in the other years.”