2009 World Road Cycling Champion Cadel Evans is back on home soil and looking forward to defending his title in-front of a home crowd next year.The two-time runner-up in the Tour de France and former mountain-biker is down under to help promote his biography 'Close to Flying' by RIDE magazine publisher Rob Arnold.

It's not often Evans can get back to Australia, a heavy schedule on the European road-cycling calendar keeps him overseas for most of each year, but driving around Melbourne in between his many media commitments he was glad to point out old haunts in a city he holds close to his heart.

2009 World Road Champion Cadel Evans at another book promotions in a Melbourne radio studio.

Walking through the Bourke Street Mall in the centre of Melbourne's CBD, Evans still turned heads with the World Championship still fresh in the memory of the public, but his walk was free of regular stops for those chats on cycling.

Earlier he spent time with local radio stations Nova and Vega in their Richmond studios. There was some light hearted questioning and the chance for listeners to call up and speak with the latest Aussie champion. Melbourne celeberities Dave Hughes, Kate Langbroek, Dave O'Neil and 'Dicko' rubbed shoulders with Evans and joked with him about just how long does it take for a rider to spend in the saddle before he gets sore.

Evans chats with radio Nova's Kate Langbroek during the breakfast show in their Melbourne studio.

In January he will ride in the Tour Down Under with his new Pro-Continental team BMC Racing before returning to Europe in the hope that the team can gain a Pro-tour license, or at least a wild-card entry into the biggest race on the planet.He described it as a risk to leave Silence-Lotto but life is full of risks and for once Evans cannot be criticised for his unwillingness to go on the attack.

With fans lining up for book signings at business lunches and departments stores around Australia a stroll around the corner to the local milk-bar here may now prove to be as lenghty as the same walk in Europe. it's amazing what it means to have that rainbow jersey over your shoulders.