LIZZIE ARMITSTEAD

I have to make sure I get the right amount of protein and iron, and I take supplements for that. I think people would be surprised if they saw my diet, though; it's very normal.

As far as I'm concerned, as soon as you reach your goal, then that's the box ticked for me. I don't feel the need to repeat titles or repeat victories; as soon as I get the one, then I'm happy.

I find weddings too procedural sometimes. I just want a big, fun party.

When you are on a climb, you always pick out people's words of encouragement, and it can push us on, without doubt.

Cycling is a business.

I'm quite a strong person, and I've become even stronger.

My family will be disappointed only if I'm disappointed, and hopefully that won't be the case. I'm trying to view the Olympics like any other race and I think the London course will suit my style.

Outside the Olympics, there are massive discrepancies within all sports. But the positive side for me is that the Olympics are the biggest platform there is, and there's total equality across all sports.

I could have been banned. That's what I was most scared about. All the hard work being for nothing. It was basically my livelihood and my sport being taken away from me. It was everything.

I've never thought about it in training, 'If I do this, then maybe I can be on the SPOTY shortlist.'

I need to learn to be happy and enjoy the achievement rather than already thinking about what I could have done better.

I am one of the best in the world, and it's a position I should get used to being in.

I'm old-fashioned.

You've got all that 130 km. of being totally focused, and as soon as you cross the line, it takes a few seconds to realise what's happened.

I will never cheat in any walk of life.

I'm not at the point of accepting it yet - but I will have to come to the point of accepting that people will doubt me forever.

I have never cheated anybody out of a victory, I have worked hard for every single race that I have won.

I can't feel sorry for myself.

I love being world champion.

I remember taking my stabilisers off my bike with my dad in the back garden. It was a small little bike, and it was called Poppy, had balloons on it, and was purple.

There are a lot of people I look up to and respect, but there's nobody really specific I would call a hero.

As a British rider, it's a privilege to be able to compete on home roads. The British public have really taken to cycling, and you can see that when the race goes through different towns: the community really gets behind it.

I think about Rio every day. Every day in training, it's something that drives me forward. I want to be Olympic champion.

The only thing that I can do - and the only thing that I've always done - is to ride my bike fast and get my head down and control the things I can control.

It's really important for cycling and for women to be on a sporting stage which is in the mainstream and across the board, not just my own sport.