Few noticed Cadel Evans in his first Tour de France when in the last week he was photographed on the final climb of the stage alongside the leaders Lance Armstrong and Ivan Basso. But he was determined to succeed, and that year he finished eighth. By 2006 he was fifth overall and in 2007 he lost to Alberto Contador by a mere 23 seconds.

But who is this dedicated sportsman? And what has been his formula for success?

Cadel was first noticed in 1994 when he rode to fifth position in a cross country race. Since his teens he has been a professional cyclist - half his life. He is a competitor who refuses to allow ego to dictate strategy. These days he receives a monthly program that sets out his schedule day-by-day. It outlines in intricate detail the required elements that are to be fulfilled: how many hours, what percentage should be spent at what heart rate, specific cadences and the length of time he should be climbing. Nothing is left to chance. No matter what the weather the regime is followed to the letter.

Cadel gives us a glimpse of the physical and psychological tests that are required to be the best, whilst giving an illuminating and fascinating look at the Tour de France – the teams; the climbs; the politics and the opponents that make it the most renowned cycling race in the world.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

It would be incorrect of me to give a book I’ve written anything but a five-star rating as it is a story I’ve told. I trust this appropriately serves as a disclaimer.

There are many things to say about ‘Close To Flying’, for it was a project that I lived for a formal period of close to two years - once the contract with publishers Hardie Grant was signed at the end of 2007 - and extra time on top of that as the subject was one of regular items published over the years.

I’ve followed Cadel Evans’ career since 1994. He raced, I wrote. He still races and I still write about cycling.

I own a magazine (RIDE Cycling Review) a quarterly title that has been on sale since July 1998. The first issue was released on the day that Willy Voet was arrested, prompting a subsequent scandal that became dubbed The Festina Affair. Since then, not one issue has been produced without reference to some doping scandal or another. Some have titles, others are just individuals who have contributed to the news items.

There are many reasons to view cycling with cynicism but in the modern era there is a growing legion of riders who believe in the notion of clean competition. For all his curiosities, Cadel is one of the good guys of cycling.

This book was done under the working title of “Cadel: Honestly”. During the writing process, it became “Close To Flying” at Hardie Grant’s suggestion. Initially I was opposed to the title. It came from a comment in the opening sequence and I wondered if the publishers had opted for a quote from too early in the book for the sake of being expeditious, not wanting to explore the rest of the text.

Eventually, I concurred. And the new title began to grow on me. But at the heart of the story is one of honesty and I hope this is reflected in the text.

Cadel is not about to retire. He is not the subject of any innuendo about his success. He is at the peak of his career and yet the time was right to tell some of the story of how he came to be where he is today. It’s a complicated ride that includes stories of his upbringing in a remote region of Australia - with all the oddities that come with it. Alas, not all the text for this chapter could be squeezed into the final edit for it was easy to be distracted by a place that was a mix of nirvana and third-world conditions. But the journey Helen Cocks took me on while describing the place where she raised her son is a fabulous one that I can still hear in my mind now that it has been published.

I hope the sentiment of what has been explained is carried in “Close To Flying”.

Cadel has become a friend and it’s because of a shared passion: cycling is what brought us together and although we know more of the competitive world that was just on the horizon when we first met, it remains something that gives us a bond.

I know a lot of cyclists and enjoy the friendships I have formed through the sport over the years. There have been candid moments with many of the riders who have shared with me intimate stories of their lives over the years. Cadel is one of them, and I’m grateful that he’s made me part of his life. It’s an interesting one, and that’s one reason why writing this book was both a challenge and a pleasure.

It’s not an autobiography, it’s a biography and that was agreed upon early in the process, by Cadel, myself and Hardie Grant. It is a story of his life that goes up to a point.

It is purely coincidental that the world championship win is included; more a fault of press timing than planning but I’m pleased it worked out as it has. It offers a conclusion to a book that was as fun as it was difficult to write (and then edit).

If you do read it, I hope you enjoy the ride.

“Float. Drift. Sweep.”

Enjoy.

Rob Arnold