It was fairly serious, but I didn't realize how much play it would get. My fault. In hindsight, I shouldn't have done it.
Dealing with all this stuff again, knowing if I were to go back, there's no way I could get a fair shake - on the roadside, in doping control or the labs,
Sitting here today, dealing with all this stuff again, knowing if I were to go back, there's no way I could get a fair shake on the roadside, in doping control, or the labs.
I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999.
I opened it back up because in my heart it seemed like the right answer. But now I know I couldn't go to France and get a fair shake on the road, in doping control or the hotels.
There is no way I could go to France and get a fair shake on the roads, in doping control or in the labs, ... There's no way I could go back there. I would be crazy.