Last year's Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre has attacked Lance Armstrong after the American made disparaging comments about the 2008 race.
Seven-time Tour champion Armstrong, who returns to the Tour this year with the Astana team, was quoted as saying that last year's race, which Sastre won, was "a bit of a joke".
The 34-year-old Sastre said: "It's his point of view, it's his words, his life.
"He is a great champion, he won seven Tours de France, a world championship, he's a great rider. But behind every rider must be a person, and on that point, maybe he needs to learn something more.
"There is something wrong with him about respect," added Sastre.
The Cervelo rider was also critical of the media frenzy created by Armstrong and his Astana team mate Alberto Contador, saying he prefers to express himself "in the saddle" and away from the spotlight.
