No other bike in pro racing gets as much time lavished upon it as a Six Day machine. A good mechanic needs a couple of hours per bike per day to do the job properly. On the face they're simple devices, with no brakes or gears to worry about. But these rigs are subject to the highest stresses with constant high speed, sudden changes of direction and those unforgiving G-forces from the steep bankings every couple of seconds.

Sometimes it's difficult to get an interview, especially if your target is World Road Race champion, Paolo Bettini, he has a Quick Step entourage with him and he's testing his new bike for 2007. But us PEZ guys are persistent and after stalking him all afternoon I was granted five minutes of his precious time. Paolo's compatriot and team mate for the race, a former Grenoble six-day winner himself, Marco Villa helped with the interpreting.

The final two nights have come and gone and all that remains are the story and pictures from yet another Six Day tended to by the inimitable Edmond Hood. Mr. Hood takes us back track-side for the final third of the Grenoble Six, a thrilling race only decided in the final madison.