Team Ineos coach Dave Brailsford has revealed the first details about his prostate cancer diagnosis and recovery; the 55-year-old underwent surgery just three weeks ago and will find out Friday if it was successful.

Brailsford's illness was first revealed in a social media post last week, when he admitted to being diagnosed "around the time of the Giro" after being asked why he wasn't running or cycling.

After the diagnosis was confirmed before the Tour de France, Brailsford underwent an open prostatectomy in August.

Brailsford first encountered chronic fatigue and other symptoms in February, when his doctor noted that a blood test indicated a possible prostate problem and notified him to undergo an MRI.

"I thought, 'This is too much trouble. I'm too busy,'" Brailsford said in an interview with The Times (opens in new tab). 'Luckily, I have an excellent doctor.'

A scan revealed a tumor, and a biopsy done the week before the Tour de France revealed a high Gleason score.

"I try to be factual and analytical about things. I couldn't do that at the time."

"It's easy to think, 'Why is this happening to me?' I've worked so hard for my wellbeing, and I'm going to be bitter, angry, and frustrated. I had to learn to accept that. Talking to [psychiatrist Steve] Peters [on the team] was a big help."

Brailsford, who was on Team Ineos at this week's Tour of Britain, competed in the Tour de France despite his diagnosis, leading Egan Bernal and Geraint Thomas to a one-two finish. He revealed that during the race he had been researching the disease, Googling information about surgery and treatments.

"I think I may never be able to do this again," he said of the Tour.

After returning from France, Brailsford opted for open-heart surgery and was hospitalized for five days in a five-hour operation. After recovering from that ordeal, he said there was something of a change in perspective, referring to an episode related to a charity cycling ride.

"There were 1,000 cyclists who participated, and he asked me if I would come and give him a pep talk. And I thought, "I'm actually going to do that."

"I thought, 'I'm going to do that,'" he said.

"At the start of every race, there are people who ask you to sign their jersey for one purpose or another. I try to help them, but I never thought that one day I would be on the receiving end of that. This is a big change. It's very humbling."

Brailsford also says that he and his star rider, Chris Froome, stay in touch and talk about their mutual anguish.

"Flume [Chris Flume] told me there was a time [after the crash] when he switched from bed to wheelchair so he could go to the bathroom by himself.

"It was monumental for him. We're talking about when I can fly in and recuperate with him."

"I'm talking about when I can fly in and recuperate with him.

If he were to get the all-clear, Brailsford said he would immediately return to what he knows best, the world of obsession with winning and the hyper-competitive world of pro cycling, while simultaneously planning to give something back.

"Some might say I'm obsessive. I see a lot of things as challenges that I have to meet. Sometimes I get narrow-minded and focus on the little things. So I think, 'Grow up a little bit.' ' And as a result, I can get upset. It's liberating in a way to be forced to stop and think about what it is that you really want."

"Enjoy what you have. I hope I can be more open; it's not easy to talk to my 14-year-old daughter about cancer, but it brings you closer to people. It helps them see things differently."