What a result ;-)

[Graham O]

I can understand peoples issue with Rapha. I went into the new condor shop the other day to get some new cleats. When I went in there, they had some strange lift type music on. It felt a bit like the grace brothers or something (bit like debenhams for the younger ones). Their have a wierd idea of what cycling is all about !!

But I guess that all Mr House does is ride for them !!

So what about the race then. What was your take on it adam. I know it was probably hard, but did the continental guys just cancel each other out leaving the way open for the domestic guys ?

[quote="Sean Hogan - 何祥"]Actually it matters little to me, but it was more a point of why you cared when clearly he was the best rider there by simple virtue of winning it.

[Graham O]

hmmm.....

maybe the top riders were caught up in the moment and missed their radios / team captains etc; whereas for the domestic chaps, it would have been a standard race and their familiar race tactics / race support....

still...it was the biggest field in a while. pitty it wasn't picked up by the media much in the UK...

Adam - did you enjoy or was it a 'learning' experience.

ta ta....

[-Adam-]

Erm, I enjoyed it up until getting held up, and despite how much it hurt, riding up the Tumble with that much support was pretty cool. But it was definately more of a 'learning' experience, as you put it. I've some way to go before I'll be finishing a race like that...

[Toks]

I've followed House's results in quite a number of Domestic races over the last two/three years and was really surprised but happy that he won, especailly as he seems to come 2nd/3rd best to R. Downing amost of the time. From what he says its a race he has always wanted to win just like Rob Hayles last year. Good for him

[Andrew G]

Yeah well done, whenever I've seen him interviewed he seems a nice enough bloke.

The continental riders often race each other in the National Champs and forget there are some decent domestic riders who you can't give too much of a chance too.

Re the jersey being in the UK maybe it could work well if the recent Tour Series momentum is continued in domestic racing and cycling is given a bit of a chance to exist in this country without being just an annoyance to local folk. More publicity for the sport as most people won't know many riders but having the National Champion there may help as a draw, in the same way you may not know who an Olympic Champion is but people know cycling did well and would pay more attention if x Olympic Champion was announced.

Okay it's a long shot, but having it on continental rider's shoulders has never exactly drawn huge numbers to cycling or given it any clout in this country.