This year was a brilliant Tour de France. [Oh, Dave – stop being so silly and provocative – what about all the drugs in cycling?]. No – sorry – it was a fantastic race this year.

The London and Kent start to the Tour was different but very succesful.

The first week was action packed with a bitter battle for the stage finishes going on and no one team dominating the sprints. We had the usual brave men seeking out a win with infeasibly long breakaways, and some truly superb mountain stages. Add to that two edge-of-the-seat time trials and the closest finish since 1989.

The drugs? The scandals?
As a bonus we had two people caught doping who were booted out, and a habitual fibber kicked out when leading (how did his team let him in in the first place?!). This is all gereat proof that drug testing is working. Furthermore, the team organisations have also come round to stamping it out. Astana and Cofidis both withdrew from the race voluntarily after their rider had sinned.

At last the whole cycling infrastructure seems ready to reject doping. People will always try to cheat where there’s big money and glory involved. Just look at the drug taking in professional football – no-one dares to test for performance enhancing drugs there (for now). What’s important is that cycling’s infrastructure is ready to reject doping.

Had a great race last night in the support race at the Colne Grand Prix. I just love the fast circuit there with its swooping corners; its only 800m in length but it always makes for positive and aggressive racing. The weather was about as good as it could be for this summer (!) – but not quite like last year’s race.

Both events there last night finished in bunch sprints, and although I tried very hard a couple of times to slip away from the group, it was never going to stick; the race was run at an average of 25.8mph and it would have taken a miracle to stay away solo. Nevertheless, as someone who describes himself as a non-sprinter, I made the best of a race that wasn’t working out my way, and swore to myself that I’d need to be in the top three on the last bend, 300 metres from the line. I kicked immediately out of the bend and was overtaken by the awesome sprinting power of former GB international Phil West (left) and the guy who outsprinted me to second in the Rochdale Grand Prix, Graeme Goulding.

After starting the sprint early and throwing my bike towards the line in the dying metres, I held off the late lunge of James Farnaby, and got my second Colne podium spot in three tries. Very satisfying! I doubt I’ll get on the podium next year though; looks pretty much like moving up a category and with the Elites next year, but I’ll continue to give it my best shot and make the most of it all while it lasts…

In the Elite event, Stuart Reid (right) did a great ride for Team Wheelbase / Gore Bike Wear, being in the thick of the action throughout, and finishing a highly creditable 14th in the sprint.