The most important decision I ever made in my career was to live my life in sports as honestly and ethically as possible. Never having compromised my values allows me to look back on my life with no regrets and feel satisfaction in what I was able to accomplish.

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

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

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.

Even good people are obliged to deceive.

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

The problem with being a Tour de France winner is you always have that feeling of disappointment if you don't win again. That's the curse of the Tour de France.