But human nature dictates that there will always be cheaters. That's inevitable. Where there's money involved and glory, there are going to be people that cheat, and there will always be ways to cheat.

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

It seemed romantic but also tragic - people would be winning but then lose it all, or crash but fight on, break bones but get back on their bikes and try to finish. Just getting to the end was seen as an achievement in itself.

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

I was awarded 'Most Aggressive Rider of the Day', generally given to the most spectacular loser of the day.

My epiphany came in that police cell: I realized I was about to lose everything and it didn't bother me, not in the slightest. I'd come to hate cycling because I blamed it for the lie I was living.

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