Andy McGrath, former editor of Rouleur magazine, joins us at the George IV as he launches his new biography of doomed Belgian 90s cycling icon Frank Vandenbroucke. Not just a forensically assembled story of an ill-fated star, the book is also a cinematic immersion into Belgium's fanatical cycling culture and the chaotic world of the professional peloton in the 1990s.

Charismatic, talented, good-looking, the young Vandenbroucke's victories in Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Paris-Nice and Ghent-Wevelgem raced him to huge celebrity status in Belgium and early comparisons to Eddy Merckx. 

But from his mid-20s, Vandenbroucke's career and life unravelled, thanks to struggles with drugs (both recreational and performance-enhancing), relationships and mental health. After a series of failed comebacks, Frank Vandenbroucke died in 2009 at the age of 34.

Guided by exclusive contributions from Vandenbroucke's family, friends and team-mates, Andy's book, God is Dead: The Rise and Fall of Frank Vandenbroucke, Cycling's Great Wasted Talent' tells the story of his chaotic life and times. 

Andy McGrath was editor of Rouleur magazine for nine years until this March. He was author of Tom Simpson: Bird on the Wire, which won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2017 and has written on cycling for The Guardian, Financial Times, Cycling Weekly and Cycle Sport.

Andy will be in conversation with the former Procycling writer Duncan Steer, who hosted our cycling In Conversation nights at the George with Carlton Kirby and Michael Hutchinson. There will be a chance to ask your own questions.

Tickets are £10 or £23 including a hardback copy of 'God is Dead: The Rise and Fall of Frank Vandenbroucke, Cycling's Great Wasted Talent'. (RRP: £18.99)