One year after admitting to using doping products during his time as a rider, Stuart O’Grady has spoken to Cyclingnews about his story during the Tour Down Under as he launched his new business, Stuart O’Grady Cycling.

He was nowhere to be seen at the 2014 edition of the race, preferring to keep his head down and let the public deal with the news. He says they have been nothing but supportive of him.

“I wasn't really sure what to expect. [I was] not happy with myself with what had happened. Twelve months on it's black and white. It's been a really supportive crowd. I think it was really important to step away for a while, and take a breather … life had been fast forward for 23 years. It was almost like a military regime – wake up, eat, rest, sleep, train … there was not time for anything else. When you are at the top end of your game, you are selfish. You have to be selfish. Now I am going to give every moment back to my family and friends and be there for my kids.”

O’Grady had a tough retirement, with his confession, but he says he doesn’t mace racing at all and wouldn’t go back to racing, preferring to work on his business and spend time with his family.

“There was a lot to try and take in, but at the same time every person I come across [says]: “Do I miss it? [racing]” Absolutely not … not for a 'nano' second. I don't miss hurting myself. I don't miss the pain it brought on and the suffering. I don't miss lying in my bed just in pain. I don't miss the actual racing. I miss being around the guys … you are like a trained dog. It's been your whole life. Things are different …”

While some people are debating via social media about O’Grady and the way he confessed and what he did, the 41-year-old Australian isn’t paying any more attention to it.

“At the end of the day I know what I did and didn't do. So I really don't care what other people guess or want to think because other people went down that avenue.”

“I had some pretty good results before and some pretty good results after [right] until the end. I know what I did and didn't do. I am completely comfortable with that. You are always going to have – which I am learning – people, especially on social media and so on [who] want to voice their opinion. You can't get stuck in the mud over a couple of quotes or Tweets or whatever.”

O’Grady says he has enjoyed the rest of the last 18 months and he is looking forward to the next chapter of his life, where he hopes to become a successful business man and get his venture well and truly off the ground.

“It's been a really strange last 18 months. There has been nothing to get up for except the kids and wife. But I needed that [rest]. I needed to take the foot off the gas pedal and just chill out, take a few deep breaths. There were things coming from everywhere and people saying, 'You should be doing this, and should be doing that.' I thought, 'You know what? I'm going to chill out for a while and then when I'm ready I'll start making decisions about the next phase.' All this hasn't happened overnight. It's been a work in progress and [his wife] Anne-Marie has been unbelievable again.”