At Speed: My Life in the Fast Lane (34 page)

My infamous two-fingered salute after winning stage 2 of the Tour of Romandie in 2010. Not my smartest move, but I’d spent the start of the season ill in bed, the critics were all over me, and it was an emotional response in the heat of the moment.

Blood, sweat, and tears.
Carrying the scars of a particularly nasty crash during the final run-in on stage 2 of the Tour Down Under in 2011.

After a pressured and difficult start to the 2010 Tour de France, returning to winning ways with the fifth stage was undoubtedly one of my most emotional victories.

It doesn’t always go as planned.
A crash during a packed final sprint on stage 3 of the Tour of Switzerland saw me fined and docked points.

I lost out on stage 2 of the Giro in 2011 by the width of a wheel rim when I felt that Petacchi rode across my line. The jury saw it differently, but I had the consolation of wearing the
maglia rosa
the following day.

The high point of my career as I emotionally receive my world champion medal and jersey after the Elite Men’s Road Race in Copenhagen, 2011.

The smooth at Sky.
A joke with Brad on the bus before stage 15.

And the rough.
Another hotel reception with Chris Froome before stage 16. If I look frustrated on this occasion, appearances aren’t deceiving.

Peta and me in the spotlight, collecting my MBE at Buckingham Palace in November 2011.

Ian Stannard, Chris Froome, Bradley Wiggins, David Millar, and me all smiles at the start line of the 2012 London Olympics.

A Team Sky press call. After hours in the saddle, another hour with the press can seriously drain your batteries, but it’s all part of the game.

Winning stage 13 of the 2013 Tour after my team provided a master class in the fine art of the echelon.

Peta, Delilah, and Finn. Having a family means that my career is as important as ever, but now because of what my success means to them.