Mathew Hayman has given us this fascinating insight following the Tour Down Under - and if you want to quiz him on this or any Team Sky-related topic he'll be answering your questions this week on our official Facebook page. Just click on the link to the right.

January 31 2010

It has been almost a week since I was on a high - we swung into the final straight of the last stage of the Tour Down Under, the Sky boys lined out, job done. My head was turned as the sprint unfolded; I was trying to hear the race commentator call the final meters of the race. 'Team Sky has taken it out' was all I needed to hear. Arms in the air, it was all worth it, another team effort and each of us had again been a part of the win.

But that was a week ago, full of adrenaline, endorphins, on a high. We had been able to give Team Sky a start that we all wanted. It had taken a lot of energy - physical, yes, but emotions had been running high all week as well.

I travelled back to Canberra after the TDU, Adelaide airport was full of bike boxes, bad tans and TDU merchandise on Monday morning. My Sky Pro Cycling polo was spotted a few times and some took this opportunity to strike up a conversation with me. Full of praise for how we had shown our colours in our first race as a team. By the time I landed in the hangar that is Canberra airport (sorry Terry) I was back to being just Mathew, tiredness had kicked in. I forced myself to greet my wife with energy that I didn't have, I had used it all up and the emotional petrol tank was running low.

I know what it is, I know it will pass, but the post-race depression is a big part of your life when you race 80-100 days a year. My addiction to the race-day high had hit me hard, maybe it had something to do with the new team and maybe it was because it was the first race of the year, but I was coming down hard.

Monday went by, as did Tuesday and Wednesday. Although I was riding my bike, and sometimes even feeling strong, good and healthy it was not the rush, the buzz of leading a black and blue train into the last furlong. Caffeine was helping; it was luring me onto the bike. The majority of people at coffee shops at opening hour in any Australian capital city will be clad in lycra, eager to quiz me on the rideability of the new Dogma, that and the caffeine was easing the pain, the rides were helping too.

But a week on and I know what the answer is to this post-race depression; firstly time, which I have had. Secondly I need to fill the void that was left by the TDU; I need to get the endorphins coursing through my body again. I need a new addiction, a new way to get high. I have one lined up, an old friend of mine - some old school hard training.

- Mathew is our guest editor on Facebook this week and will be looking after the thread on this article so get quizzing him now by clicking here