Spain's 2007 champion Alberto Contador said Saturday he will not join up with Lance Armstrong in a team next year, after virtually securing his second Tour de France crown in France.

The Spaniard will go into Sunday's final stage to Paris with a lead of 4min 11sec and 5:24 respectively on Andy Schleck and Lance Armstrong.

Contador then revealed he will not be joining up with Armstrong, currently his teammate at Astana, at the American's new team RadioShack.

"It's certain," said Contador, who has endured a tough Tour campaign due to the presence in Astana of the seven-time champion.

"I will be in a different team from Lance next year but whether it's a new project based around me or me joining an existing team, I don't know. It's still too early to say."

Contador won the race in 2007 and in 2008, after winning both the Tour of Italy and the Tour of Spain, joined an elite club of riders to have won all three major three-week Tours.

Having won a host of different one-week stage races the 26-year-old added that Armstrong's record of seven consecutive wins was not on his radar.

"Records are not something I really focus on too much," he added when asked if interested in matching Armstrong's achievement.

"I try to enjoy everything I do as a cyclist and I like to win lots of different races. I'm 26, and maybe in the future I will try to win some (one-day) classics.

"The Tour de France will always be among by big objectives although that won't stop me from having ambitions elsewhere."

Armstrong launched his new team last week, virtually confirming his intention to race at the Tour next year.

With a full year to prepare, the anticipated duel between the Texan, who will then be 38 years old, and Contador will be unmissable.

AFP

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