Spanish PM says Contador has no rival

Spain's Prime Minister praised 2009 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, saying on Wednesday that the Spaniard, who was locked in a tense duel with his US teammate Lance Armstrong during the race, is unrivaled.

"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 personally congratulate the rider.

"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," he added.

Contador won the Tour on Sunday by 4 minutes, 11 seconds over Andy Schleck, from Luxembourg. Armstrong, a seven-time Tour winner, was 5:24 behind his Astana team-mate Contador, who also won the race in 2007.

"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 when he arrived back in Madrid on Monday.

Armstrong, who came out of retirement to take part in the Tour, hit back at Contador, saying in a message posted on Tuesday on his Twitter feed that the Spaniard has "lots to learn".

"A champion is also measured on how much he respects his teammates and opponents. There is no 'i' in 'team'," he added.