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

When you get second place, you say 'I could have won it here, I could have won it there.' When you win, you never say anything; it's finished.

The key is being able to endure psychologically. When you're not riding well, you think, why suffer? Why push yourself for four or five hours? The mountains are the pinnacle of suffering

You don't suffer, kill yourself and take the risks I take just for money. I love bike racing.

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

It never gets easier; you just go faster.

I know it is possible to win the Tour without taking anything.