I've always said the Olympics are special to me.
Part of me worries about upsetting people, because we all have perceptions about Olympic champions.
I wanted to give an honest insight into a consuming Tour. It's turned out pretty interesting because there aren't many books out there documenting someone's failure.
I ended up in Hampstead for two weeks after the Tour, visiting a hospital every day before my granddad died. But he was more than my granddad. He was like my father.
The changing of the goals helps keep the motivation fresh.
I drank because I enjoyed it. I was happy sitting at the end of the bar on my own, reading the paper. I've always enjoyed my own company, and that stems from riding alone. I never trained with anyone - and I still don't. I've always been happy with my own thoughts, and that sums me up as an individual-pursuit rider.
I wish I hadn't said I'm going to retire.
You have got Team Sky leading the way on a professional front. They are quite open and have done everything possible on an anti-doping level.
Tom Simpson is like the Bobby Moore of British cycling.
My attitude is that, if you have nothing to hide, why not show it?
In my eyes, I will never be up there with the Sir Steve Redgraves and the Sir Chris Hoys of this world. It's not something that drives me; I just enjoy going to the Olympic Games. Just to be mentioned in the same breath as those people is an honour for me. I don't ever think about those kind of things.
It's an Olympic Games, at the end of the day, and to represent your country at the Olympics is about as good as it gets. Put a gold medal on top of that, and it doesn't ever get any better.
It's still the height of every four years for me, regardless of Tours de France and everything: it's all about the Olympics.
