With a new multi-million pound sponsor in Sky, the Edinburgh rider is convinced that his sport can reach new heights after Beijing, where the team won a record 14 medals, eight of them gold.

 

He said: "To the whole GB team, to have a big backer who is going to promote the sport and who is going to really try and make it accessible to the general public, that's hugely important.

 

"Up until now we only get the odd event, maybe one or two a year, televised but to have somebody who is committed to promoting the sport, not just at elite level, but with events like the Sky Freewheel event at the weekend, that kind of thing, it's really important for cycling."

 

Hoy, who now has a total of four Olympic gold medals having also won one in Athens four years ago, also urged youngsters not to think that just because they do not live near a velodrome that they cannot try the sport.

 

He said: "Track cycling for me came off the back of trying different disciplines.

 

"I tried BMX, mountain biking, the road, time trial and then eventually tried the track and that's the one I enjoyed the most and what suited me physically as well - I'm a sprinter so I'm no good at the long distance stuff.

 

"That's the thing with cycling, there's something for everybody, it doesn't matter what kind of athlete you are there are events to suit you.

 

"We just need the facilities so that kids have the chance to try out a new sport.

 

"If you don't have a velodrome near you you're not going to go hundreds of miles just on the off chance that you're going to enjoy it.

 

"They don't have to be multi mullion pound venues like this one here [in Manchester], you can have a training venue where kids can get on the track but where elite riders can still train but members of the public can get on the track and have a go.

 

"It just means the sport is going to grow and more and more people get the chance to try it which can only be a good thing."