Olympic legend Hoy feels the joy at new Glasgow velodrome

GLASGOW - Agence France-Presse

In this file photo from Aug 7, 2012, Chris Hoy wins the men’s keirin at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Hoy is the most successful Olympic cyclist with seven medals.

Sir Chris Hoy, Britain’s multiple Olympic track cycling champion, yesterday cycled the first lap of the 2014 Commonwealth Games velodrome in Glasgow which bears his name.

The venue officially opens on Friday but Scotsman Hoy, Britain’s most successful Olympian with six golds to his name, was allowed in early to try out the track.

“It’s amazing to be here to finally see it in the flesh,” he said.

“I’ve seen lots of pictures of it and I was here a number of years ago when it was just a load of wasteland and to see the scale of it now is fantastic.

“It’s great fun to ride on, very smooth, very quick. So I think there’s going to be some great racing here.”
The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, opposite Celtic’s Parkhead ground, has a 2,500 capacity. It is the only indoor track in Scotland.

“Having this velodrome means that we now have a chance to really develop the sport, to host major championships, to train future champions and to let schoolkids and club-level cyclists come down, try it out and enjoy it,” he said.