Congratulations to the ONCE cycling team. The Spanish outfit say they won't take part in the Tour de France again because of the way they were investigated this year. Clearly unworried about health issues they didn't like the rough and tumble of the Tour being rumbled on its potentially brain busting haemocrit levels. Congratulations on the profound arrogance of the team, which should be noted by sociologists as part of modern sport's unerring ability to scramble minds and nourish self importance.

Congratulations to ONCE president Jose Maria Arroyo who said: "If we are given guarantees that our trucks and coaches (nothing more annoying than your coach being searched and you gear confiscated - right?) will not be checked right down to their tyre pressure, and that there will be no other interference beyond internationally-accepted drug testing, and that we will be allowed to compete, then we will take part."