You know, once I was thinking of quitting when I was diagnosed with brain, lung and testicular cancer all at the same time. But with the love and support of my friends and family, I got back on the bike and won the Tour de France five times in a row. But I'm sure you have a good reason to quit.

The idea that anybody was forced, or pressured, or encouraged, is not true.

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.

If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can all learn from them. When you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope? We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or fight like hell.

I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999.

We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up or fight like hell.

Make an obstacle an opportunity, make a negative a positive.