The national championships offered genuinely thrilling racing, plus a welcome double for GreenEDGE courtesy of Simon Gerrans and Amanda Spratt. After the men's race, a Victoria police officer distinguished himself by apparently being surprised to discover that cycling championships involved a high number of cyclists, calling Michael Rogers "a stupid f@#$%*g bike rider". Matt Lloyd returned, in agreeable fuschia.

Luke Durbridge's win in the time-trial came with bonus intrigue after it was revealed GreenEDGE successfully 'pressured' the commissaires panel to overrule regulations and allow radios only hours before the race.

Rogers, who finished third, was at the centre of another controversy as vehicle traffic caused problems during the time-trial. Rogers was held up by cars on one section of the course. Jack Bobridge fared worse, and will miss the Tour Down Under after being blown off his bike during the TT by wind from a passing truck. In the women's under-23 road race, Rabobank newcomer Lauren Kitchen alleged collusion between the GreenEDGE and AIS squads.

Far from Ballarat and over the pond, Garmin found a new sponsor and simultaneously became the 2012 pro team most likely for fans to subconsciously associate with Sarah Palin. Garmin-Barracuda's new kit is pretty much the same as the old kit, except with a Barracuda logo. Saxo Bank, in other kit news, have brought back the policy under which all riders must agree to have their appendixes pecked out by the team eagle.

The team formerly known as RaShNiTreProCT but now as the monkishly austere RadioShack-Nissan-Trek had their 'rock and roll' launch party, and it was falsely advertised unless you count one of the blokes who used to be in Kraftwerk. The host broadcasters rated his performance so highly they cut the live stream before he was finished. Comedy duties were left to Andreas Kloden, who branded Andy Schleck "a little clown", although Johan Bruyneel's team did also provide chuckles by attempting to rebrand their domestiques as 'indispensables'.

Liquigas Cannondale didn't even try, holding their 2012 team presentation at the headquarters of a car company. That left Pro Continental outfit Farnese Vini to show how to do these things properly.



Remember when January used to be a quiet month?

Sky blue, Pope wears enormous hat, bear decides against travelling into town to use portaloo and opts for woods

You're going to want to sit down for this one. The decision on Alberto Contador's clenbuterol case might be delayed. The Court of Arbitration for Sport's final* ruling was expected this week, but according to the Spanish daily El Mundo could now be postponed until next week or beyond because of concerns by the three attorneys on CAS's ruling panel that their report is not yet watertight.

Thankfully for hankie-squeezing cycling fans still concerned that the whole thing might be concluded before we are all swept up in the Rapture, both parties have the right to appeal.

*not necessarily final

The week in ...

... announcements

The Vuelta a Espana is often regarded as the runt of the year's three grand tours, the Dean Waugh to the Tour de France's Steve and the Giro d'Italia's flashier Mark. So it's congratulations to Vuelta organisers for keeping pace with their colleagues in France and Italy by successfully leaking details of the 2012 race route. Full stage details for this year's Tour de France, you will recall, were revealed eight days ahead of launch after they were inadvertently published on the Tour's official website. The Giro route slipped out via an unprotected page on the site's English language section.

The Spanish daily AS was first with this year's Vuelta route, nicely torpedoing Wednesday's official announcement by publishing one day earlier. As for the route? Let's just say if you like your roads tilting upwards, it is right up your callejon.

... motivation

Marianne Vos has the Olympics to keep her interested this year, plus the World Championships on home soil, but Rabobank women's team manager Jeroen Bleijlevens is worried about the future. When 2013 rolls around, how will the rider who has won almost everything manage to compete without frequently drifting off the road, her eyes glazed like frosted window panes at the prospect of yet another humdrum victory?

Bleijlevens has the answer, and it is for Vos, 24, to race against men. Vos's object would "not be to win", he added, wisely foreseeing the kind of excitable Battle of the Sexes media coverage that was all well and interesting when it was Billie Jean King but was pushing it when it was Annika Sorenstam. "But she can improve herself, become even better."

Plan B, reportedly, involves a best-of-three series against a horse.

Dispatches from the Twitterverse

does gerro get a vintage cadillac now? - @Bridie_OD

How nice of the Drug Testers to give me an early morning Birthday present. - @cammeyercyclist