It isn't often that Zdenek Stybar is in London (not since he was 11, he said). You would not expect me to miss this auspicious event, would you? Well I didn't. Styby was in town partly to take a peek at the Olympic road race course and partly for the launch of Balint Hamvas' and tgsgirl's new cyclocross book (buy it, it's fab!). He did a question and answer session and then proceeded to be his utterly charming self for the rest of the evening, chatting and signing autographs with a massive smile. Now you may remember the pink hand decorated boots I wore to the Koksijde worlds. I gave them another airing tonight and Styby loved them! He thanked me, little ME, for my fandom and my efforts! I didn't know what to say! He was utterly utterly lovely. We talked for ages and ages about all kinds of things...his road programme, riding with OPQS, CX in the UK, my feeble efforts at being a crosser (he asked when I was going to race in Belgium, bahaha), my bikes, what he thought of London (he doesn't like full English breakfasts), how he trains, nutrition, mutual aquaintances, the races I'd been to. He was SO friendly and so genuinely interested in a little nobody like me. Just a thoroughly nice guy. I was a fan before but now I'm a SUPERfan.

Maratsafin was also there and showed Styby his new pink Specialized frame! It's gorgeous. I'm SO jealous!

Styby answers questions alongside photographer Balint Hamvas. Journalist and author Daniel Friebe asked the questions.

He signed my book

And my hat

And I grinned lots and lots

Thank you Zdenek! What a true champ!