WHEN most people get to see champion cyclist Chris Froome in the flesh, he is usually wooshing past in a blur of colour.

But hundreds of lucky cycling fans got the chance to get up close and personal with the Olympian for a surprise cycle ride.

The happiest biker in the pack was schoolboy Finlay Cousins, who has idolised Froome since he started cycling two years ago.

He and dad David headed straight for the meet from Gosport when they saw it advertised on Twitter.

"His dream's come true, really," Mr Cousins said. "He's absolutely obsessed.

"He's got ADHD and dyspraxia - it's just given him a real focus and I think Chris Froome has always been his little inspiration."

Finlay, who cycles for Fareham Wheelers, said: "It was amazing. We talked about how skinny my legs are, like his, and how I'm a big fan."

The gold medallist and two time Tour de France winner organised a flash mob style cycle ride which saw more than 200 fans turn up to meet their hero and pose for selfies.

Froome, the only Briton to win the gruelling Tour de France twice, sent out a tweet on Saturday saying: "Anyone keen for a short ride with me around Southampton this afternoon? #RideWithFroomey".

Hundreds of people replied within hours of the tweet being sent and the Olympic star revealed he would be setting off from the University of Southampton at 3pm on the Saturday.

Froome had been at the University making use of their wind tunnel in preparation for the Rio Olympic games later this year.

He said: “We were down here doing some wind tunnel testing and I need to get a ride in today.

“Participation in cycling has exploded recently and I thought it would be a really good thing to get people on their bikes.

“I didn’t think many would turn up, I was expecting about 20 people and seeing this many people is just incredible.

“This is really exciting and it is a good way to interact with fans.

“Training is good, I am really hopeful things are on track and I think it is all heading on the right track.”

Although around 200 started on the ride when it ended just under two hours later outside of Winchester Cathedral only 30 people had managed to keep up with the champion rider until the very end.

After the ride Froome tweeted: "Thank you to everyone who came out to ride with me in Southampton today, great day out!"

Rhys Thomas, 21, is the president of the Southampton University Cycling Club, and said: "We saw him in the week outside of the wind tunnel, it is pretty cool and it is nice that we are lucky enough to have the wind tunnel so we see a lot of cyclists come down.

"He came through a massive crowd to talk to us which was really nice of him to talk to the cycling guys.

"It was all pretty cool, we didn't manage to get any cycling tips but it is nice of him to make the effort to come here."

A spokesperson for team Sky said: "We regularly use the wind tunnel facilities as part of the team's preparation.

"Aerodynamics is hugely important in cycling, having a skin suit fitted properly and what position your head is, that makes all the difference.

"We have been using the wind tunnel in Southampton for quite a long time, it is a world class facility and when it was opened it was set up to serve sporting performance."