Then the first day I put the bike clothes back on, Luke was like, 'What are you doing? I thought you quit your job.' Then I came back an hour later all bloody and he thought that was the coolest thing.

I made a mistake to go after him that day. I thought it was too important but I never said the things he said I did.

We've always had parties or celebrations on that day. It was just a way to do something for a city that has done a lot of things for me. We're basically saying thank you for all the support.

I'm thinking it's the best way, ... I'm exercising every day.

If you dominate a world sport you will always have questions and doubts. Perhaps at the end of the day we were too successful. When you win the Tour once, twice, seven times, it is just too hard to believe.

Through my illness I learned rejection. I was written off. That was the moment I thought, Okay, game on. No prisoners. Everybody's going down.