AS a horde of lycra clad daredevils entered the 'Gateway to Wales' and swarmed around the town like Bees at a honey banquet, Sports Editor TIM BUTTERS hopped on his penny farthing and carefully adjusted his monocle to take a closer look at the events that made this year's Festival of Cycling the brightest, boldest, busiest and best yet.

THIS HOUSE IS ON FIRE

IN amongst a field full of quality, top name billing and world-class riders it was Rapha Condor's Kristian House who stole the show on Sunday to win Abergavenny's much acclaimed 2009 National road race championship.

The 29-year-old from Canterbury who has enjoyed many a victory in-the past nine years, but nothing on this scale, was rendered speechless after crossing the finish line first ahead of such heavy hitters as cycling's current man of the moment Mark Cavendish and double Beijing Olympic gold medalist Bradley Wiggins.

In a race characterised by attack after attack, House surged through on the finishing line to consign Dorset's Daniel Lloyd into second place.

This must have been a particular bitter pill for Lloyd to swallow as sour memories of just losing out to Tour de France star David Millar two years ago on the same Abergavenny course must have been playing on the unlucky cyclist's mind.

Rising Isle of Man star Peter Kennaugh was third and, in doing so, denied Barloworld team ace Chris Froome, who was riding his first National Championships, a podium place.

Events conspired to be particularly tough on Froome because he rode the race of the day. He was out at the front for most of the afternoon and, after a long crawl up the main climb of the Tumble Mountain, he had built up an advantage of nearly three minutes over the chasers alongside double Beijing Olympic gold medalist Bradley Wiggins.

But with Cavendish leading the fight-back, that gap was reduced to a cat's whisker by the third of the final ten finishing laps around Abergavenny.

While Wiggins wilted in the heat and dropped out before the final lap, Froome made a last-ditched bid for glory and took a 33 second lead into the last four-and-a-half mile circuits - looking to all extent and purposes odds-on-favourite to win.

However, the final three riders left in the chase hit back with a strategic game of cat and mouse and the Kenya-born ace was caught, reeled in and passed with only yards to go to the line.

On arriving home first, House said "It's phenomenal - a dream come true. I raced well and it was all down to me at the end. I'm speechless.

"We knew that the race was going to come down to the five of us and, when Ian Stannard got dropped, the event was in our hands with two laps to go.

"We organised together and got back at Chris. At the end of it, I bided my time and went for it. Froome was on fire but he went a bit early at the end, I think."

Lloyd could not disguise his hurt at becoming the bridesmaid yet again and revealed, "I'm disappointed because you always want to come to the National Championships and win it. But I was not riding that great today."

A gutted Chris Froome pointed out, "On that last lap, they caught me and I'd go out the back and then they'd be looking at each other so I'd come back and attack again and I kept on getting little gaps and thinking I could hold them off but someone would keep bringing me back. It's gutting to be fourth after being at the front for the last 100k."

So to a victorious House go the spoils and also the last words, "I don't think I have ever felt like that before. I really don't know what to say."

"The course today was perfect for me. I never been national champion in anything - I came close on the track but to do it on the road and in the one race that really matters, it really is a dream come true," explained the happy cycling hero.

COOKE'S RECIPE FOR SUCCESS CONTINUES

NICOLE COOKE proved she is a rider for all seasons after leaving Wales bubbling with pride and winning her tenth National Road Race Championships title in Abergavenny on Saturday.

The 26-year-old reigning world champion memorably won her Olympic Games title in the shadow of the Great Wall of China during a downpour.

Yet on the weekend, with scorching temperatures, she sprinted down the middle of Abergavenny town centre after 80 hot miles to beat youngster Lizzie Armitstead and Olympic Time Trial silver medalist Emma Pooley by ten metres.

Cooke, who as a talented 16-year-old took the senior National Championships said, "This win feels very special, just like the first time. It was an incredible victory to pull off in front of a home crowd."

THE FLYING DUTCHMAN PREVAILS

JEROEN JANSEN won the Get Connected! Welsh Open Critierum during an euphoric evening of racing in the streets of Abergavenny town centre last Friday night.

Just a day before Olympic and world champion Nicole Cooke defended her women's road race title, huge crowds turned out to support the riders.

And in a cracking race, Dutchman Jeroen Jansen came home in a bunch spring along Nevill Street to claim the title.

Second was Marcin Bialoblocki, from Poland, while James Stewart was third.

SHOP WINDOW DISPLAY

IT was a case of 'trading standards' for the lads and ladies who entered the Get Connected! Abergavenny Traders Race on Friday evening for charity.

The winner by a long stretch was Rhodri Buffett of Little Treasures.

Other traders who kindly gave of their legs and lungs to compete were Sue Teur (Threshers), Alison Ravetta (FR?ball), Catherine Greenow (Alun Griffiths), Argo Bowsher (BikeBase), Ian Haddell (Angel Hotel), Gareth Williams (Cooks Galley), Matthew Warner (Warner Plumbing), Damian Cole (Get Connected), Anthony Kelly (Anthony Kelly decorators), Stephen Meredith (Gabb & Co), Robert Blowfield (Pedal Away), Geraint Pritchard (Tetrus), Jill Judd (Judd Brothers), Morgan Jones (Peter Jones (ILG) Ltd), Peter Burgland (Landsdown Estates), Beverley Bradley (Claires Accessories), John Griffiths (Positive Solutions), Nigel Jones (Smiles Better), Miles Preece (M&D Cycles), Matthew Gould (Lanes of Abergavenny), Sean Price (PM Consultants), Michael Taylor (Studio 49 Photography).

All photos courtesy of Philip Sims.