Don't forget, road season is not over

The sledge hammer that is cross is winding up and about to be in full swing, but before that hammer comes crashing down, people need to remember that there is some excellent road racing left. Testament to that was this past weekend where I saw some of the best racing I have seen all year.

Canada's Pro Tour double-header - Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec and Montreal - went off fabously. GP Quebec saw Frenchman Thomas Voeckler win with a closing kilometer move that even he had trouble believing stuck.

And in GP Montreal, it was non stop action. There was a late break which contained one of my all time favorite American riders, Chris Horner, his Radioshack teammate, Machado, Saxo's Sorensen, and Liquigas's Danial Oss. The four looked good, but it drew out some of the big guns in the peloton to lead a hard chase. Garmin, Sky, and Rabobank all put some muscles on the front while Radioshack's Leipenheimer looks poised for the counter. In the end, it was Gesink who got a jump on the peloton and held an impressive 10k solo to the finish line.

Gesink had what it took, but was clearly assisted by the chasers' hesitation to willing pull Sagen and Boasson-Hagen to the line. (Rightly so, but I would have loved to Gesink and Hesjedal go head-to-head.) The finish was Gesink, Sagen, Hesjedal. That's right, Canada's own Hesjedal got a hard fought 3rd. For a minute there, according to Vaughter's Tweet, "Hesjedal was bigger than hockey in Canada." I think the general consensus is that this is a Pro Tour race that will be around for a while.

In addition to these two great races, there also an ongoing battle for the Vuelta GC, which is one of the hottest we have seen all year. Everything I have seen from this race, I have loved. Right now, I am putting this Grand Tour on the same pistole I place the Giro on. The reason is simple - both races have focused RACING and less on politics, gossip, rivalries, etc. Whether that has to do the fans, media, or promoters, I don't know. What are your thoughts? Which Grand Tour do you like the most and why?

After the final GC contenders get done slugging it out, the next race on everyone's mind has to be Worlds. Personally I can't wait for this race. With countries final team selections coming in, it seems like it is going to be a excellent race. Many are calling this a sprinters course with some hard climbs. Names that come to mind are Freire, Hushovd, Pozzato, and even Evans for the double. Who knows? there is always a chance that Farrar and Cavendish could make it with the group, and if they do, we might see a flurry of late moves trying to trying to get away from a bunch sprint - there is only one jersey after all. 2nd and 3rd just don't apply in this race. Who is on your radar for the win? What countries lock poised to dominate?