Yep. Sadly.

i was also taken aback that the road racing at brands was free - could definately have publicised this a bit more

Finally managed to catch up with Vuelta coverage after a few weeks away in Ireland with no access to internet or tv.

Wow!

Well and truly the best Grand Tour I think I have ever seen made even better by three Spanish riders who made this race a true spectacle in a way that makes this years Tdf look like a limp lettuce in comparison.

I can’t stand Valverde and have lost respect for Alberto Contador but…….along with Rodriguez – these guys know how to make a race don’t they? Particularly Bad Bertie and Purito – they were just at it all the time. I thought that ‘panache’ was dead but with the help of a brilliant course these guys made the race brilliant.

Bring on the Worlds. Can’t see the Brits making an impact on this one with a classics style to it but at a stretch we could see Stannard in a decisive break. Will be interesting to see what impact JTL could have too.

On the back of what I’ve seen in the Vuelta then I think it could be Contador or Valverde to win.

Blimey, doesn't JTL look like Bertie Accountant when he's climbing? Out of the saddle, dancing on the pedals...

JTL has been.doing that all season on much bigger and steeper than that. This is why he's being seen as the real deal.

I'm looking forward to seeing JTL up against the worlds best - I just kind of wish he wasn't joining Team Sky......

Don't get me wrong. I'm not a Sky hater I just think that by having all of our the UK talent in one basket means that some of our guys are compromising their careers.

On a seperate note I urge all of you to read a book I'm reading right now. I'm sure you've heard of it....'The Secret Race' by Tyler Hamilton. I'm kind of shocked reading it so far. Not as a result of the revelations being a surprise - more because it just confirms how dirty US Postal were. How the French teams have not stood a chance in the last 13 years as they had to be clean. Shocked how Lance can still claim to have been a clean athlete. It really is compelling reading.

Talking of JTL - do you think he could figure in the World Road race this week? He looks in far better form than anyone else right now.

he is in the GB team (wasn't sure from your reply if you knew or not?) and given the terrain he might well have a chance but I still don't quite get why Cav is in there, reiging champion is the only reason why but think he might be a sacrificial Lamb maybe or just covering all the options should he still be there at the end. I'd think it very unlikely and that breakaways will be the order of the day.
Emma Pooley and Sharon Laws have already won a Bronze in the ladies' team TT for her team AA Drink-Leontian.NL

Great Britain squad for the 2012 UCI Road World Championships:

Elite men - road race

Mark Cavendish, Steve Cummings, Alex Dowsett, Chris Froome, Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard, Ben Swift, Jonathan Tiernan-Locke, Bradley Wiggins

Elite men - time trial

Alex Dowsett, Chris Froome

Elite women - road race

Lizzie Armitstead, Katie Colclough, Nicole Cooke, Nikki Harris, Sharon Laws, Emma Pooley

Elite women - time trial

Wendy Houvenaghel, Emma Pooley

A team which will no longer exist by the end of the month. There has to be more effort put into the women's game, whether it's shadow grand tours or an obligation on Pro Tour teams to run parallel women's teams.

Yeah I knew he was going. I just wondered who might figure come the end of the race.

I see the winner coming from Spain this year. There are 4 very good Spanish riders who if they work as a team will be hard to beat in Contador, Rodriguez, Valverde and Sanchez.

I agree with you on Cav. I kind of know why he is going as he wants to defend his title. Plus it also gets him in the right area of the world for negotiating his contract for next year. He might figure more than we expect him to but only to increase his market value.

And John_D - I think it should be a condition of every World Tour team to have a womens team. More parellel races. More money available. The womens Olympic road race was far more entertaining to watch than the mens.

true, although we have done well over the years I think the promotion of cycling for women across the board is massively behind the men which is a damn shame, we really need an influx of ladies in clubs and commuting on the road