People do make mistakes and I think they should be punished. But they should be forgiven and given the opportunity for a second chance. We are human beings.

The first time I rode a bike I was four or five. I crashed into the back of a car.

I might have changed, but that did not mean the sport had.

Now there are two or three teams who are very ethical in their outlook who have opened up the economic benefits and that is probably going to be a turning point in the sport.

The manner in which one loses the battle can sometimes outshine the victory.

In Italy it's full-on stardom when you're a cyclist - eating in restaurants for free, it's great.

I shave my legs twice a week. It's hard the first time you do it. But I'm very lazy. For a team photo in December I just did the fronts.