"I was famous, I had a nice face and I had money. So, I tried to keep the spotlight" - Christophe Moreau faces trial after alcohol escapade

Christophe Moreau is involved in legal proceedings in Switzerland. The former French rider will have to answer for threats, violation of the federal law on narcotics, insults and housebreaking following what happened almost a year ago in Porrentruy.

Moreau, now 52 years old, had barricaded himself in the house of his ex-wife and daughters, preventing them from entering and making heavy threats on the telephone towards his ex-spouse. It was thus necessary to intervene by the local police, who took the former rider into custody, who then spent a month in prison and another two in rehabilitation.

"I was drunk," Moreau himself tells Le Parisien. "And while I was on the phone with one of my daughters I said some absolutely disgusting phrases, which I then quickly forgot. Once in custody, the police played me the recording of that phone call. I heard some piece of s*** talking to his daughter and making death threats to his ex-wife. That scum was me. I'm ashamed of my behavior. I was a bastard."

Moreau says he had addiction problems: "I was famous, I had a nice face and I had money. So, I tried to keep the spotlight that I had when I raced my bike on. I fell into many excesses, alcohol in particular. I could have drunk three liters of beer every night. And also cocaine, because I wanted to be able to party without getting tired. As a rider, they gave me the nickname 'Le Grand'. I wanted to justify it even after the end of my career. It's such a stupid thing, when I think about it now."