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I've always known there's more to life than just racing for a long time.

The competition in today's world of racing is so tough.

It is very dangerous to have your self-worth riding on your results as an athlete.

If I couldn't compete, I wouldn't ride. I don't ride for fun; I ride to prepare for the next competition, and everything that I do when I am in the saddle is always a calculated step in my path to the next win.

There are so many people who have died of cycling, and that didn't happen when I was racing.

You don't suffer, kill yourself and take the risks I take just for money. I love bike racing.

Coping with injuries is always difficult for athletes because all we want to do is, basically, to have our best performances unhindered.

I'm a racer at heart more than anything else, and that will always be my priority: competing. But ultimately, if you can't drive, you can still have the competitive spirit outside of a car.