This year's Tour de France will go down on record as one of the most action packed, controversial races in recent years. From the cobbles in Classics territory, to the crashes in Spa, it was a Tour of ups and downs and, literal, highs and lows.

Stephen Roche and Cyclosport.org's Holly Blades take one final look back at the past three weeks of the Tour de France 2010, the highlights, the lowlights, and how the outcome bodes for the next year's racing on the pro-circuit.

Find out Roche's thoughts on Mark Cavendish's performance, the controversies that made the headlines, and what the future holds for three time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador.

The Helium Jacket, created by Endura, has received positive reviews since it's release. Cyclosport.org tested out the jacket in road races and club runs in all types of weather to see whether, in this instance, it really is worth saving up for a rainy day.

Week Two of the Tour de France 2010 saw the riders reach the Pyrenees, in a week chock full of controversy and Hors Category climbs. A late second rest day means the second week of the race covered eight stages including the famous, or infamous, Col du Tourmalet. Stephen Roche and Cyclosport.org take a look at the events of the past 8 days.

Here is the July update from the blogger formerly known as Beer n bikes. Why the name change? Well...... She's drinking more wine these days. July has been a whirlwind for her - Tour De France, riding, Tour, buying a bike, Tour, booking a gite in the Alps, Tour, drinking, Tour and occasionally giving thought to the real world including her career. She joined a club and entered a time trial. Stretched a bit too enthusiastically and got "Shlecked". Hatched a plan to escape to the Alps for a week for some classic cols. The Limping Cyclist on cycling so far this season.

The Tour of the Black Mountains took place in Abergavenny and included a climb up the Iron Mountain itself, The 'Tumble'. "This is my third season riding sportive events, and there is only one event, from the 50+ events I have attended so far, that I have ridden three times – The Tour of the Black Mountains." writes Howard Johnson for Cyclosport.org.

I've wanted to ride this event for a few years, spurred on by Dave Lee and Howard Johnson and the Tour de France, I got onto the start sheet along with 400 others. Having only really got fit to ride the event after breaking my arm, I knew at some point I was going to suffer and boy did I get that right! Almost straight from the start we started to climb, in what was just the first of many tricky climbs, writes Mark Harding.

Cyclosport.org and Stephen Roche  continue our run down of every stage of the Tour de France 2010. Having only four stages, Week Three sees a relatively easy run up to Paris following the trauma of the Pyrenees. With two sprint stages, it could herald the green jersey for Mark Cavendish, and a lengthy time trial in Bordeaux favours the likes of Bradley Wiggins. See Stephen Roche's opinion on the explosive Grand Arrivee, Stage 20.

"I just wasn't prepared for the energy sapping headwinds that we suffered! Myself and regular riding partner Geoff arived in Wanlockhead just before 08:30 ready for a 09:05 start. The temperature had been dropping steadily ever since we had left East Lothian and by the time we reached Wanlockhead it was cold, very windy and a bit rainy! After registering at the Inn and picking up numbers, route card and transponders we got ready and headed to the start." GHitchen reports from the Radar Ride, which boasts a hill top finish up one Scotland's highest roads.

"If you look in the diary on Cyclosport.org, on any weekend there must be over a dozen rides to choose from all over the UK, many run for profit, which is fine, and many run for charity. Maybe, just maybe you might think a charity ride will not be as well organised, well think again." Howard Johnson writes for Cyclosport.org

Irish cycling legend, and seven time winner of the Paris-Nice, Sean Kelly, has today been confirmed as a participant in the 2010 Sky Ride Etape Hibernia, Ireland’s first closed road mass participation cycling event which takes place in County Clare on Sunday August 22nd. He joins Olympian Gold Medallist Denise Lewis in a star studded start list.

Cyclosport.org and Stephen Roche continue our run down of every stage of the Tour de France 2010. Week Two kicks off with Stage 8 at Station des Rousses before tackling the imposing Col du Madeleine on Stage 9 and reaching ski resort Ax 3 Domaines with Stage 14. It's a trip through the mountains to tire the legs out before the return of the majestic Col du Tourmalet in the third week. See Stephen Roche's thoughts on the arduous Stage 16 and his thoughts on the return of the Tourmalet in Stage 17.

"Big G Grimpeur on Saturday 17th July. Starting and finishing in Beverley, East Yorkshire and run by the Hull Thursday RC I had entered as i wanted to fit one more Sportive in before our family holiday to France and it was the most local event to me. As it turned out, this was a very enjoyable ride and was surprisingly challenging, given that the East Yorkshire Wolds would not be considered particularly difficult terrain in comparison to other areas of Britain." - PatrickL reports for Cyclosport.org.

Around 6,888 of the 10,000 starters in the year's Etape du Tour conquered searing temperatures and the formidable climbs of the Col du Marie Blanc, Col du Solour and the Col du Tourmalet. The results are in and pretty soon you should be able to find pictures and video to cherish your experience of riding one of the hardest stages of the Tour de France. Chapeau everyone who took part.

Winding from the banks of the Thames up into the Chiltern hills, the Woodcote course is a consistently challenging but beautiful ride through countryside that rarely sits flat. Chiltern courses are notorious for punching above their weight and these Sunday Sportives are no exception!

When Wheels in Wheels announced the Pain on the Plain sportive, there were several enquiries as to why the route hadn’t been released at the same time. Here, Pain on the Plain brings an update on its, so far, "top secret" route. Taking in private army roads across Salisbury Plain, it is terrain perhaps more familiar to drivers of heavy armour vehicles!