There were something like 50 good, arduous climbs around Nice, solid inclines of ten miles or more. The trick was not to climb every once in awhile, but to climb repeatedly. I would do three different climbs in one day, over the course of a six- or seven-hour ride. A 12 mile climb took about an hour, so that tells you what my days were like.

On a friendship with former president George W. Bush: He's a personal friend, but we've all got the right not to agree with our friends.

I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles.

There were no shortcuts, I realized. It took years of racing to build up the mind and body and character until a rider had logged hundreds of races and thousands of miles of road. I wouldn't be able to win a Tour de France until I had enough iron in my legs, and lungs, and brain and Heart.

At least I didn't invent a dead girlfriend

It's ironic, I used to ride my bike to make a living. Now I just want to live so that I can ride.

If life gives you lemons, drink the juice in order to mask the presence of performing-enhancing drugs.