Lance Armstrong feels he is a better cyclist this year but he insists it is not essential for him to win the Tour de France for the eighth time.
Armstrong came out of retirement in January 2009 and went close to achieving his goal of an eighth Tour win, with his then Astana team-mate Alberto Contador beating him to the coveted prize.
The American has since set up the Radioshack team and believes he will be stronger as a result of his experiences in 2009.
"Last year I was more about brute force, this year I feel it is more cycling power," Armstrong said. "I'm a better cyclist now. I feel more comfortable in the peloton. Last year, at the start, I was nervous, fearful, at the back, and that's why I fell in Palencia."
Rumours of a rift between Armstrong and Contador dominated the headlines throughout 2009 but the latter feels it was the people that surrounded the Spaniard that caused the friction.
"He is highly strung, which isn't a bad thing. So am I. All the great champions are like this, they all have a bit of insecurity in their lives, and feel they have to compensate," Armstrong added in El Pais.
"I don't think it was Alberto more the people around him. Alberto isn't stupid. He's an intelligent person. He will continue to improve and gain experience in everything."
Looking to the year ahead, Armstrong continued: "It doesn't look to be in my favour...(but) we'll go to the race and see who is best.
"It isn't essential (for me to win). I don't need to especially, other than to reward all the hard work. There is no difference between winning seven or eight.
"The next Tour will be a great story, the rivalry with Contador, what happened last year...This is good for the Tour but it won't change my life whether I win or not."