Athlete

Cycling is a part of my life; it always has been, and I will always continue to cycle. I won't be doing it on the world stage, doing it competitively, but I'll still be out on the weekend with the masses riding around Richmond Park in my Team Sky jersey or whatever. I just love it.

When you're in the heat of the moment, you need guys you can trust and who have been there for you.

My dad was a professional track racer. It's in my genes, and my first memories as a baby were in a velodrome.

Working-class people don't tend to be wooed by celebrity.

I was a bit of a loner at school because I was into what I was into, that sort of scene; that is where the whole mod thing started, when I was 14-15.

Tom Simpson is like the Bobby Moore of British cycling.

Wives are around a lot longer than your sporting years.

I came to the conclusion that I'm not going to give up cycling because some people are cheating.

I wish I hadn't said I'm going to retire.

I can train harder and put myself through more punishing efforts now than I used to do, having done the Tour de France, and come off the road now.

Pace judgement is everything in the hour record. If you can ride 16.1 or 16.2-second laps constantly for 221 laps, and not go 15.9s or 16.4s, it's keeping it on the line every lap, lap after lap.

You have got Team Sky leading the way on a professional front. They are quite open and have done everything possible on an anti-doping level.

I certainly don't hope to live forever, but on the other hand, I'm not reckless.

How does Ronnie O'Sullivan play snooker the way he does? You can't explain it.

It's difficult, and it's an incredibly fine balance between getting your weight right down and being anorexic.

On the Tour, you live in a bubble - your team, the other riders, the press - so you don't know how it looks from outside.

I drank because I enjoyed it. I was happy sitting at the end of the bar on my own, reading the paper. I've always enjoyed my own company, and that stems from riding alone. I never trained with anyone - and I still don't. I've always been happy with my own thoughts, and that sums me up as an individual-pursuit rider.

I've been in a lot of pressure situations; I know what I can do.

Not having my father around has made me a better person.

I didn't like doing team presentations at races, being introduced as the winner of the Tour. I felt quite embarrassed by it.