If you're not at the front, you're not in the race.

I've been proud to be national champion.

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.

I like my hands. Which is lucky as I have to spend all day looking at them on the handlebars.

I've been proud to be national champion. I've really enjoyed it. I have very little opportunity to remind people that I'm British and it's a nice way of staying in touch. I'm going to defend it fiercely. I want to keep it.

To be brutally honest, it's simple economics. If they want to come into cycling, sponsors need to know the team they are funding is clean, otherwise the risk is just too great.

I think cycling has always had a tradition of being a bit dapper, especially back in the day.