Queen's chuckle as David Brailsford is knighted for GB cycling heroics

TEAM GB cycling boss David Brailsford laughed and smiled with the Queen as he was knighted for his outstanding contribution to the sport and Olympic Games.

Ilkeston-born Sir David said the monarch wished him a happy birthday.

He then revealed they shared a "chuckle" when he said he was actually born on February 29, and so could only celebrate it on the correct day every four years.

Sir David was knighted for leading Britain to eight cycling gold medals at two successive Olympic Games and Team Sky to an historic one-two in the Tour de France.

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The 49-year-old mantra of "marginal gains" – which included washing hands, sleeping with the same pillow and using single stripe toothpaste – will all go down in sporting history as the formula that helped Team GB's cyclists win 12 Olympic medals at London 2012.

The performance director said he loved every moment of his day at Buckingham Palace yesterday.

He said: "I'm honoured. It means so much and is such a humbling experience.

"The Queen congratulated me on my birthday, which is actually on the 29th, which made her chuckle.

"We talked about the Olympics and how proud everyone was and what a great event it had been."

Sir David said he felt warm inside when he thought of the cyclists' achievements.

"I have seen their development for many, many years and all the background work, all the laughter and the tears and the pain.

"It was fantastic for the country, of course, but particularly good for the riders and cycling itself."

Before the ceremony, Sir David said: "I'm very excited. I'm a humble guy but, instead of holding back, I'm going to embrace the day because it's a unique moment in my life. I've been involved in cycling for most of my life and, in the last few years, British Cycling and Team Sky have really progressed and helped make the sport more mainstream.

"I'm here on behalf of the sport – what the riders, the backroom staff and our partners have helped achieve. We've all contributed to the progression of cycling and I'm the lucky person who's here to represent all that."