However, there was some speculation in Spanish media that Mr Rajoy, in one of his answers at the press conference, appeared to have admitted that some of what the El Pais newspaper published was correct.
The admission shattered the faith of millions, and now readers who bought into Armstrong's inspiring fabrications - about his fightback from cancer to sporting triumph through honest hard work - are seeking compensation.
They do seem to have the respectful relationship of old adversaries. In the past, they have not been warm and tactile with each other in the way, say, Mrs Merkel and US President Barack Obama were when he visited Berlin (before the revelation that his people were listening in on her phone). But that is not her way, or his.
Chancellor Merkel has involved herself in the politics of the region. She has maintained links with heads of state, including President Putin, but also with dissidents in both Russia and Ukraine - remember that the jailed Russian oligarch and Putin opponent Mikhail Khodorkovsky flew straight to Berlin when he was freed from his Russian prison.
- Wasn't there a director in the hotel?
- Yes, but his country number wouldn't be in that directory.
- And did you phone him?.
-Oh, no.When I heard what happened here...-...I forgot all about it.
- Otelin bir müdürü yok muydu?
- Evet ama onun köydeki ev numarası o telefon rehberinde olmazdı.
- Ee onun aradın mı?
- Oh, hayır. Burada ne olduğunu öğrendiğimde bunu tamamen unutmuştum.
-He wants to marry me .
-Are you going to?
-Not now. lt would hurt him.A divorce would hurt his career.
- His career!What are you going to do?You can't leave him now.
- O benimle evlenmek istiyor.
- Evlenecek misin?
- Şimdi değil. Şimdi olursa onun duygularını incitir. Boşanmak kariyerine zarar verir.
- Onun kariyeri mi? Asıl sen ne yapacaksın? Onu şimdi terkedemezsin.
