We've welcomed in the New Year and said goodbye to the old and for many cycling fans it is a huge relief to say goodbye to 2012.
Unfortunately for cycling, 2012, despite a great year of racing, will go down as a very dark year indeed. Of course I speak of the demise of the once great Lance Armstrong.
I'm still deeply affected by the events that unfolded last year. Torn between feelings of despair and disbelief, shame and humiliation. I'm sitting on the fence witnessing a once hero hunted, victimised and torn to shreds, and on the other hand feelings of justification weigh on the other end of the see-saw in my mind. There is no room for drugs in sport, that I am certain of. But I am also certain that there are heroes and great human beings who with or without artificial assistance will always be out of their competitors leagues. As I said, torn.
No doubt the fall out from the Lance Armstrong saga will continue to develop and unfold during 2013, but ultimately I am looking forward, which is something all cycling fans should do.
The summer of cycling and start to the 2013 cycling calendar has begun here in Australia with already the Bay Crits having taken place, the Jayco Herald Sun Tour currently underway and the National Road Championships next on the agenda. And then the big one - the Tour Down Under.
My first taste to savour will be when we travel to Buninyong for the National Road Race which is going to be a very exciting event indeed. Then we head to maginicient Adelaide and surrounds for our 9th consecutive trip to the Tour Down Under. I am hopeful that the mood at both will be as exciting as ever, and going by crowd numbers during stifling heat at the Sun Tour it should be.
So here's to 2013, may it hold more ups than downs and begin a momentum of pedals turning in unison for the future of cycling.
Are you heading out to any of the summer cycling in coming weeks?
