A cycling spat boils over, everybody has an opinion on Manchester City's title credentials, and the opposition is praising the Springboks? All this and more in our sports quotes of the week!

THE GLOVES COME OFF

During this year's Tour de France, the relationship between Astana team-mates Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong was under constant scrutiny. It seemed at times the tension was boiling over, but the media was constantly blamed for fanning the flames and making a story out of nothing? Well, seems where there is smoke, there is indeed fire.

"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.

"It was a delicate situation, tense, the two riders who had most weight on the team did not have an easy relationship and that puts the rest of the technical staff and the riders in an uncomfortable position." - Alberto Contador sums up what we were all thinking anyway?

"Seeing these comments from AC (Alberto Contador). If I were him I'd drop this drivel and start thanking his team. Without them, he doesn't win.

"A champion is also measured on how much he respects his teammates and opponents. There is no 'i' in 'team'. What did I say in March? Lots to learn. Restated." - Lance Armstrong hits back.

I have to admit I have lost a lot of respect for Contador since he won. The Spaniard has done little to endear himself to anybody after basically giving everybody the finger. It was always going to be tough with both riders in the same team, but as arrogant as Armstrong apparently is (and he is proving the opposite), he is quickly being overtaken by Contador.

CITY ARE TITLE CONTENDERS?. NO THEY'RE NOT?. YES THEY ARE

Manchester City are the big-spenders in England this season and just about everybody has something to say about their title chances. Does buying a team necessarily result in victory? Well, Chelsea proved it can work to a degree, but judging by City's pre-season results it could be another tough Premiership for Mark Hughes.

"Manchester City are getting all the back page stories and they will hold that position for the rest of the season because there is a lot of interest in what they have done and a lot of speculation about whether it is going to work.

"But I cannot look at Manchester City as our main competitors. Liverpool and Chelsea are our main competitors. There is no doubt about that." ? Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson is not impressed by his big-spending neighbours.

"I am not bothered about Alex Ferguson. This is in the past and Manchester City is in the present. Ferguson is pre-occupied with me and always talking about the money aspect. But that was not my motive for this move, and I will prove myself with goals.

"We have the best attack in Europe - Robinho, (Roque) Santa Cruz, (Emmanuel) Adebayor, (Shaun) Wright-Phillips. It is very strong. I am convinced City will reach the top level in Europe in just one year because it is a strong, ambitious club." ? Former Man U star Carlos Tevez is backing his new side City to conquer.

"Don't write them off, they can do it. If he (Mark Hughes) gets the right players they could be real title contenders. If they make a couple of good players in the right areas then who knows." - Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is sitting on the fence?

"This Manchester City side is going to be so, so strong that they can withstand anything.

"City might not be favourites to win the league but they should be. If Toure comes - and they still haven't stopped spending - they have as good a chance as anyone of winning it." ? Aston Villa's Martin O'Neill puts his money on City.

What do I think? City have no chance of winning the Premiership this season. They may have a chance of breaking into Europe, but even that is going to be tough. There just seem to be too many individuals and no real team.

IN PRAISE OF THE BOKS ? SURELY NOT?

The Springboks are not all that used to being praised by opposition teams ? just speak to the British and Irish Lions about it? Since re-admission the international arena has not exactly been flooding over with compliments for the Boks, who are more likely to be labelled 'thugs', 'arrogant' and 'bullies', than 'rugby geniuses' and 'true ambassadors of the game'. Well, not outside of South Africa anyway?

So imagine our surprise when we saw Graham Henry's comments after watching his All Blacks go down to the Boks last weekend! And it didn't stop there either because the Kiwis have not stopped lavishing the praise onto the victorious South Africans. Perhaps the Lions can take note?

"I first of all want to congratulate South Africa on their victory. They were the better team and deserved to win." - All Blacks coach Graham Henry after the game in Bloemfontein.

"There are no excuses. We have no complaints about the altitude or the turnaround time between last week's Test [against the Wallabies] and today's. This is a very good Springbok side. They deserve to be No.1 in the world." - Henry again.

"They [South Africa] are a very good side and they've been that for a while and they just exude that belief.

"Obviously, if you don't accept the physical challenge then there won't be a lot to feed off, so that's one area where we are going to have to step up, essentially.

"Otherwise it doesn't matter what plans you've got in mind, they won't come to much." - Wallaby coach Robbie Deans gets in on the act.

"He's a very successful international captain and has won a World Cup [in 2007] which we are very green about."

"He's a very fine player, he's highly respected by his players and he's a good bloke. He's a top man, so I can understand why he [captained] 60 Test matches and I can understand why the Springboks follow him. He's a top person." - Henry praises Bok skipper John Smit on his record-breaking turn as an international captain.

Well, there you have it! Makes me glad to be playing against southern hemisphere opposition again because at least they are willing to give credit to the opposition? unlike some other teams.