In a fantastic double triumph, Joaquim Rodriguez has ended his season on a high with Victory in the Giro di Lombardia and finishing top of the WorldTour Points Ranking leader board - which Bradley Wiggins lead until yesterday. After such disappointment in the Giro d'Italia and La Vuelta a Espana Rogriguez can hold his head high knowing that he finished as the most consistent rider of 2012. Yesterdays victory effectively though, draws the competitive season to a close...

With Philippe Gilbert now crowned World Champion, any major road racing is fast becoming slim pickings. This Saturday though will see the final 'monument' of the year play out in front of a mass of fans at the Giro di Lombardia in Lombardy, Italy, with a backdrop of beautiful scenery and autumnal colour. The race has been criticised for some slow editions with racing that doesn't live up to the standard of the other 'monuments' such as Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders - but 'The Race Of The Falling Leaves' is an altogether different type of race and what it lacks in spring grit it makes up for in a glorious stunning visual display of meandering streets, steep climbs and often brutal autumn weather, though with a calendar change from mid-October to the end of September may change this...

I have again be noticeable by my absence but unfortunately I have ongoing 'laptop issues' and I may have taken a sneaky two night break in the Peak District this week where there is certainly no shortage of Cauberg-esq climbs. I'm here as and when I can be and luckily I've managed to get online pre-road race. So here is my list of Contenders for tomorrows big race...

Tomorrows 45.7km hilly time trial looks to have a depleted field lining up at the start in Heerlen as Bradley Wiggins and Fabian Cancellara fail to reach the start-ramp. Far from being a TT specialist style course, the route features three categorised climbs and this race could well suit the climbers as much as the specialists. Christopher Froome could have looked good here though he has now withdrawn to 'focus on the road race' which is slang for 'because he's knackered.' So who's left in the race, and are we going to get a surprise winner?...

I'm feeling a little smug today. I started this blog in March and my fourth ever post was about Jon Tiernan-Locke. Since last years Tour of Britain I have followed Tiernan-Locke's progress closely and for those who are regular visitors here you will probably have noticed a fair bit of JTL related posting, I guess I am a bit of a Tiernan-Locke 'fanboy'. I was the site to link Tiernan-Locke to Sky (here) and as a result the blog got a LOT of attention. I probably owe a lot to JTL, but taking the leaders jersey in today's stage of Tour of Britain vindicates my attention...

With the season rapidly drawing to a close (hold back those tears) riders are still looking to secure their futures. Many will already have deals done but announcements are unlikely to be made until racing comes to a finish as a mark of respect for their old teams, for others this isn't such an issue and some have already finished racing for the season so can talk openly about contractual affairs. So here is part 4 with all the latest movers and shakers. (See here for Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3).

The Vuelta was a reminder of just how difficult life as a pro is, OK there are perks - good kit, good wages, plenty of travel etc but the reality is that cyclists and indeed staff, make huge sacrifices in the shape of time away from family and friends as well as restricted diet and lifestyle. It's also bloody hard. Think you are suffering at the end of your Sunday morning club run? Think again. Suffering is training every day for long hours over tough terrain, in the gym, on the bike and off the bike and that's before we even get to race day which could well feature some steep alpine climbs just to top it all off. So how do riders and staff unwind and stay sane? Well, Orica-GreenEdge like to do it with a little song and dance...Enjoy

So the Vuelta is over and it seems the winner was a predictable one, though the fashion in which he won certainly wasn't. It looked for a while that Alberto Contador was out of Vuelta contention and resigned to second place on the podium but thats the thing about cycling - nothing is predictable, the race can change like the direction of the wind. One bad day, or even one bad minute can turn a 3 week race on its head and just when it looks as though the podium is decided - BAM, it's all change. So what has the 2012 Vuelta a Espana taught us...

So, my laptop decided to give up the ghost just prior to the start of what has probably been the most exciting 5 days in cycling this year and though it means Ive had quite a welcome break and been able to appreciate the racing slightly more than usual it's time to round things up a little...

Unfortunately my ageing laptop is on the blink and as a result the blog is not likely to be updated untill Tuesday evening at the earliest. Sorry for the weekend absence and please bare with me, I should be back soon! Thanks!