Everything in my life is in perspective. OK, perspective ebbs and flows. I've had bad days, but they weren't in the last years. A bad day is 2 October 1996: 'We've got bad news for you, you've got advanced testicular cancer and you've got a coin's toss chance of survival.' That's a bad day.

There was certainly a dishonesty there that I think is totally regrettable and inexcusable. The ringleading, the bullying: not totally true.

Cycling is a sport of the open road and spectators are lining that road.

I have never doped … I have competed as an endurance athlete for 25 years with no spike in performance, passed more than 500 drug tests and never failed one.

I exercise everyday. I swim, I bike, I run and I go to the gym.

If I can't face my accusers, that's a joke. We did that in medieval times.

It can't be any simpler: the farewell is going to be on the Champs-Elysees.