Lizzie Armitstead

I have a strong, inspiring, and professional group of women around me with Boels-Dolmans. We race and train incredibly hard as a team.

The UCI have to make the decision to put in rules into women's cycling that they have in men's cycling: you know, like a minimum budget to run a women's team and that sort of thing so that it becomes more professional.

There are lots of things that could be done. We could get more help from the UCI, like forcing Pro-Tour teams to have a women's equivalent.

As a female athlete, I think it's really important to stand up on a podium and represent females and what we're capable of, and I always try to make political statements with what I do rather than with headlines.

I'm excited to see the growth in women's cycling, and I think the Women's Tour has had a really positive impact on that change.

It's fantastic news that the Aviva Women's Tour will continue in 2016.

The problem, as a female athlete, is that you don't want to come across as negative and moaning.

I never expected to compete at home in a UCI women's race - let alone as world champion.

Most women's races don't pay much at all.

It has been difficult to get back on the saddle, particularly after getting whiplash and concussion, but it's just about understanding that sometimes it's OK to say, 'I don't want to get back on my bike for week.'

I never quit. The times when I have quit in the past because I couldn't face trying harder have stayed with me, and the guilt is not worth it.

I'm a very goal-oriented person, so I look at the specific demands of a certain race and tailor my training towards that.