2010 wish list

2010 promises to be an exciting year for road cycling and the new season can't come quickly enough, writes Michael Tomalaris.

In between reading the inspiring Cadel Evans biography "Close to Flying" and taking in the rays on some of Australia's great beaches, I've thought about a wish list for the new year ahead.

Riccardo Ricco

His career was ripped to shreds after limping out of the 2008 Tour de France for doping, but I really would love to sea the return of the brash, young Italian with attitude. Here's a chance for Ricco to put his sins of the past behind and show the world he can win without cheating.

Danilo Di Luca

History will show di Luca allegedly cheated his way to success over a majority of his distinguished career.

He should be shamed especially after his near-celebratory reaction at last year's Giro when he was denied overall victory despite the final stage crash by Denis Menchov on the cobbled-stoned roads in Rome.

Aussie ProTour Team

It's been talked about for the best part of a decade, but it seems a fully-fledged Aussie team contesting the big races of Europe is still a distant proposition. Regardless, this would be the make-up of my hypothetical "dirty dozen" premier Aussie team for next year's European circuit.

1. Cadel Evans

2. Robbie McEwen

3. Stuart O'Grady

4. Allan Davis

5. Michael Rogers

6. Cameron Meyer

7. Matt Lloyd

8. Heinrich Haussler

9. Matt Goss

10. Mark Renshaw

11. Jack Bobridge

12. Wes Sulzberger

Tour de France

Wouldn't it be nice to have the tables turned and see Cadel breakthrough for a Tour win? Wouldn't it great to see is a three-way tussle on the Tourmalet between Cadel, Contador and Lance.

Each is in a position of wearing the the yellow jersey by day's-emd. For once, luck is on Cadel's side - his rivals both suffer punctures. The Australian reigning world champion wins the decisive stage and opens up a margin that will take him all the way to the Paris finish.

Melbourne World Championships

Spring in Melbourne is the most unpredictable time of the year in terms of weather, but can Australia's cycling capital put on a feast of fine weather for the week-long carnival in September/October? Sydney did it for the Olympics in 2000, here's hoping for global warming (if only for a week) when the world's best riders come to town.

SBS

In many countries of Europe, professional cycling is a relgion where wall-to-wall media coverage is the norm. It doesn't seem that long ago when it was just a pipe-dream, but as "Australia's cycling network", SBS is building an international cycling portfolio. I'm proud of what we've acheived to date and look forward to sharing the the great racing to come in 2010 with you.