I wanted to be seen as a good person, and never wanted to let people down, but I found it hard to handle the fame or adulation. I didn't feel worthy of it. I was ashamed by who I thought I was because I felt partly responsible [for the abuse] and I was never able to enjoy the stuff I should have been able to enjoy. My first thought when I won the Tour was: 'My God, I'm going to be famous', and then I thought, 'He's going to call'. I was always waiting for that phone call. I lived in fear that anyone would ever find out.

It is cycling as a professional sport that represents the problem. It can transform someone into a liar.

More people should apologize, and more people should accept apologies when sincerely made.

I rode in a nine-day charity ride recently, averaged 43km a day and still finished in the lead group. I'm 38, not quite finished yet.

It never gets easier; you just go faster.

There are so many people who have died of cycling, and that didn't happen when I was racing.

I'm more optimistic about cycling right now than I've ever been.