Eddy Merckx

The day when I start a race without intending to win it, I won't be able to look at myself in the mirror.

You had to be strong in the head... training, training and training. That is the only way, even if you have big talent.

It's not like at university where you graduate. Every cyclist must start again. At the end of the season you know if you are good or not.

Cycling is a sport of the people. How many people in the world have never been on a bike? Not many.

I do not want to continue cycling until I am 35. I want to make something else out of my life, too. There are other things besides a bike and racing.

I have decided to give up competition. I cannot train properly for the Tour de France which I had hoped to ride for the last time as apotheosis to my career. Doctors are forbidding me to ride anymore in high level competition and I bow to them.

I was a more aggressive rider than Armstrong. I would attack more often. He waits for the other guys, then counter-attacks.

You need talent as a rider and I think I had that in my genes. But I think I also had a talent for suffering, which I thought was important, but also determination.