Since retiring from cycling, Victoria has competed as a jockey and made an attempt to climb Mount Everest, as well as competing in various reality shows, and she admitted she never saw her entire life revolving around her bike.

She told Telegraph Sport: “I know that belittles my career massively. I don’t want to reduce it to a stepping stone, but it fundamentally always was for me. I thought there would be a life after cycling.

“I just thought I’d take a step out and there would be something there for me to put my foot on to.”

A betting company offered to pay for her training and entry fee for a race at the Cheltenham Festival and admitted learning to ride has completely changed her life as she now spends a lot of time caring for her horse Sarah.

She said: “I instantly fell in love.

“I’m just a crazy horse lady now. I would love to have loads of money, lots of retired race horses and look after them into old age – that’s the dream.”

The former Olympian was named the first female Royal Marines honorary colonel two years ago and her current goal is to pass the four tough physical tests all recuits have to complete to earn their Green Beret.

She said: "I thought I should at least honour the award because otherwise it’s like receiving a gold medal that you haven’t earned.”

In the future, the 45-year-old star is considering freediving, even though the idea of going underwater without breathing equipment "terrifies" her as much as getting her excited.

She reflected: “You never know what’s around the corner, so you may as well make the absolute most of it by taking every opportunity that comes your way because you don’t know if it’s going to be your next great love."