Tour de France

So the greatest cycle race in the world has ended with victory for Alberto Contador. Blood doping and drugs once again marred the race with Rasmussen and Vinokourov removed. Nic and I went to the fantastic weekend start of the Tour in London and watched this terrific spectacle of riders, support and advertising vehicles and Gendarmes go through the City of London at the Guildhall on the Sunday morning.

It is amazing how this race grips young and old alike along the route whenever it comes to the UK, and this year was exceptional with no less than five British competitors. Well done to Mayor Ken Livingstone who is using the Tour to promote cycling in London, where cycling has increased by 83% since 2000. People are being caught when using drugs, so we can hope for a future where the race is a test of strength and ability, which it always is for most of the competitors and not a test of who can aviod detection of performance enhancing drugs.

We have now watched the beginning and the end of the Tour having witnessed the end of the Tour in Paris back in 2003.