Only human

LANCE ARMSTRONG RETURNS - Las Vegas Cyclocross from CYCLEFILM on Vimeo.

Another Armstrong post? Well, yes, but he is in the news a lot at the mo. Like most true cycling fans, we make no secret here of our outright admiration of STTDFW Lance Armstrong (to give him his full title..) despite all the negativity borne of incessant doping allegations – even because of it. Only the bitter and envious actually want to believe he's a doper; let's face it, it's practically irrelevant now. Like the guy himself says, doing what he did takes something much more potent than homologous blood transfusions, it takes real balls, real talent, really hard work. He's no fake and he's about to prove it. Again.

All the old daggers are out for a polishing, with a pretty aggressive Cycling Weekly interview now online, carping on about a "press blacklist" as if anyone cared bar the ones who imagined they were on it... while others are already back on his case for not posting up his blood tests as promised, even though Don Catlin himself has no worries; the most tested athlete in history has been tested seven times already since September and he's still only in training.

The level of sensitivity surrounding both Lance and his detractors is highlighted by the pending legal action over comments made in that recent Guardian interview. Touchy or what?

Watch the cyclecross vid above and you might recognise yourself at the end, as we look into the face of a rider who's been out of the saddle a bit too long for comfort. It's going to be really interesting watching him next year. And if you're not really into the actual bike riding, you can always follow Cycling Weekly's coverage instead ;)