The body is telling the mind to stop. The mind is telling the body to shut up.

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

I'm not trying to justify myself, or say I'm not sorry, or not contrite.

I love this race from the very depths of my heart. It gives me motivation and it transcendsme like nothing else in the world.

My mom was such a strong character. I don't want to say she was like a man, but she was tough.

It's a fact that children with cancer have higher cure rates than adults with cancer, and I wonder if the reason is their natural, unthinking bravery... Adults know too much about failure; they're more cynical and resigned and fearful.

I guess if I looked at it from an athletic standpoint, I don't really need to win another Tour. Seven Tours for me was a dream, six broke the record, so that eight doesn't really mean much.