Vuelta a Espana winner Alberto Contador has admitted he may quit Astana should Lance Armstrong join the team on his comeback.
Armstrong, 37, announced he was coming out of retirement earlier this month in a bid to not only to become the oldest-ever Tour de France winner, but also to raise awareness about cancer.
While it is not yet known which team Armstrong will join, Astana has been touted among the favourites due to the presence of the American rider's old Discovery Channel team manager, Johan Bruyneel, who is currently in charge.
Contador originally responded favourably to the news when it broke, but has since decided the arrival of the American in his team may lead to 'some difficult situations'.
"I think I've earned the right to be the leader of a team without having to fight for my place," the 25-year-old Spaniard told Spanish sports newspaper Diario AS.
"And with Armstrong some difficult situations could arise in which the team would put him first and that would hurt me."
"We'll have to see what happens, but of course I'm not going to renounce (my position)."
"My intention is to stay (at Astana) because I have a contract until 2010, but I have already received a good number of offers from other teams."
Armstrong is set to outline his comeback on Wednesday at a press conference in New York.
Contador, who on Sunday became only the fifth rider ever to triumph in all three 'Grand Tours' (the Vuelta, the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia), will not make a decision until after hearing the American's plans.
He also expressed his hope that Bruyneel would keep faith in him if it came to a decision between taking Armstrong or keeping Contador.
"On the basis of what he (Armstrong) says (on Wednesday), we'll make a decision," he said.
"Bruyneel believes more in me because of my results, but you have to understand he has the name he's got for having been linked with Armstrong, and nobody can deny that."