I sat there with everything - and I had nothing.

I think cycling has always had a tradition of being a bit dapper, especially back in the day.

My epiphany came in that police cell: I realised I was about to lose everything and it didn't bother me, not in the slightest. I'd come to hate cycling because I blamed it for the lie I was living.

Everything that's going on within the peloton - there's about ten different races going on. There is also a survival element to it - I love the fact that it's so epic. You crash on a bike, the first thing you do is try and get back up on it. No whinging!

I can understand the kind of situation he is in. I had my years in and I just sat back and said it's probably time for me to move on and do something else, something different in my life. It's time for him to move along and do something different. He served the community very well over the years and I understand exactly where he is and I wish him all the luck in the world.

I was baby-sat on the beach,