Despite the length of time it took, the International Cycling Union (UCI) Independent Commission procedural hearing at The Law Society in London made fascinating viewing for all of us in attendance.

The Commission itself has been formed to investigate the doping scandal surrounding the world governing body for cycling following the Lance Armstrong revelations which came about last August when the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) banned the American for taking performance-enhancing drugs and stripped him of his seven Tour de France titles.

The hearing comes after the Commission called on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the USADA and Change Cycling Now (CCN) to participate in a truth and reconciliation public hearing, under a full or partial amnesty, but all three declined under the current terms of reference - those terms being that the UCI are controlling the Commission, and blocking moves for amnesty.

On the top table at The Law Society was the three-member Commission itself, featuring chairman Sir Philip Otton, a former British Court of Appeal judge, along with House of Lords Peer and 11-time Paralympic champion Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Australian lawyer Malcolm Holmes.

Predominantly in the dock for the UCI was their chief legal aid Ian Mill QC and, noticeably watching on nervously from the front, was under fire UCI President Pat McQuaid.

Throughout the hearing, McQuaid twitched agitatedly as it became clear that relations between the UCI and the Commission had broken down.

"It is blindingly obvious that there is immense public interest in determining why and how Lance Armstrong and his US Postal Service team were able to engage in systematic doping for so long without detection or sanction," said the impressive Sir Philip, who was skillful throughout in getting across his point without the usual, complex legal terminology normally used in such situations.

"We understood that was also a concern of the UCI. But, cards on the table, the UCI's attempts to delay this process are of huge concern."

The entertaining Mill, who is certainly no shrinking violent, hit back emphatically until it got the point where he said the UCI wants to see the Commission suspend their activities.

The main reason for this appears to be money, as the UCI are funding the Commission at what they say is considerable cost.

They want a new Commission - that they suggest WADA should jointly fund - with a wider remit than the current Commission.

It all ended rather unsatisfyingly with an adjournment.

"The Commission has decided, with considerable reluctance, that the best course is to adjourn this Procedural Hearing until Thursday, 31 January, 2013 which should be sufficient time for the participants to reach an agreement in principle, if not detail," said Sir Philip in his closing statement.

"In the meantime the Commission expects to be informed by UCI of the progress of the Amnesty discussion. The Commission came to the view that some form of witness amnesty was desirable to enable the Commission to gather comprehensive evidence for this Inquiry.  The Commission also believed, and still strongly believes, that an amnesty is important for the good of professional cycling generally."

With that the Commission retired and in a surprise move, McQuaid got up for a makeshift press conference.

It is rather fascinating to see just how much the Irishman has relished the fight in the last few weeks and while others may have run from the media, McQuaid stands there and takes it.