The pedals fall silent

It was fun! For twelve weeks I had an almost daily dose of classic cycle road racing to watch on television and, yes, it was thrilling to witness Team Sky dominating both in the Tour de France and La Vuelta. Chris Froome's historic double victory commands respect indeed.

But the wonderful theatricality of the sport was for me best expressed when, on the last day of real competition, Alberto Contador won the taxing mountain stage, at the very last moment the first for a Spanish rider this year. Add the fact that he yesterday rode into his home town, Madrid, on the last stage he will ride as a professional. 

He will retire from racing a happy man! Grand stuff, to be sure.