Contador is world's best rider, says Armstrong

TENERIFE, Spain (Reuters) - Seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong was full of praise for his new Astana team mate Alberto Contador on Thursday.

The duo will ride the Tour together next year after Armstrong, back in action after a three-year retirement, confirmed this week he would again take part in the famous race.

"He (Contador) has a tremendous amount of talent," Armstrong told a news conference at Astana's training camp in Tenerife.

"It's pretty simple. This guy ... sitting on my left is the best cyclist in the world."

Tensions appeared to rise earlier this year when Spaniard Contador, who won the Tour in 2007, threatened to leave if he was not guaranteed team leadership.

Armstrong, however, played the issue down.

"There are some unwritten laws in cycling that say the other riders support the better rider," said the 37-year-old American.

"There is a chance I am the second-best rider, a chance I am the third-best rider, so then I will respect the rules of cycling, the orders from the team and if that means supporting Alberto, Levi (Leipheimer) or Andreas (Kloeden) I will do it."

COMPETITIVE RETURN

Armstrong, who triumphed on the French roads every year between 1999-2005, will resume competitive cycling in next month's Tour Down Under.

"It would be nice to have a year to dip my toes in, feel how warm the water is," he said.

"I don't know if I will be at the same level as 2005. There are a lot of question marks against my physical condition but that's logical.

"It's why I wanted to start (the season) early," added Armstrong, who will also ride the Giro d'Italia for the first time.

The American said he was unsure about his Tour de France prospects.

"I don't know (if I can win)," he said. "I have been too long out of competition, I have not tested myself against the others.

"If the Tour de France was today I don't have the power to win but it's not today."

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)