In Italy it's full-on stardom when you're a cyclist - eating in restaurants for free, it's great.

There will always be cheaters. It is human nature. It will never be 100 percent clean, in any sport.

People do make mistakes and I think they should be punished. But they should be forgiven and given the opportunity for a second chance. We are human beings.

I was awarded 'Most Aggressive Rider of the Day', generally given to the most spectacular loser of the day.

The manner in which one loses the battle can sometimes outshine the victory.

If you're not at the front, you're not in the race.

Often the best guys are just those that can suffer longer, who don't give up. And it's so easy to give up, when you're on a mountain and it's really hurting. We go through a lot physically.

I had grown used to getting a pat on the back and being told after a good result: 'Well done, David - you should be happy, you're the first clean rider.

I'm an accumulation of every single thing I've done, good and bad.

I like my hands. Which is lucky as I have to spend all day looking at them on the handlebars.

I shave my legs twice a week. It's hard the first time you do it. But I'm very lazy. For a team photo in December I just did the fronts.

One needs longing to live and enemies make one long for them.

I sat in the dark and thought: There’s no big apocalypse. Just an endless procession of little ones.

That is how you know you've left childhood behind-when you wish for time to go backward.

The social and industrial structure of America is founded upon an enlightened citizenship.

There are some short essays that are very grave, and most contemporary novels are lighter than air.

There is no continuity at all. The universe isn't any particular way. It strictly depends upon perception.

All my friends were choosing university courses, but I had no interest in anything other than acting, so I applied to go to RADA.

Competence is a great creator of confidence.

The body is an inviolable limit. And you have to really hurt it before you know that.