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Chris Hoy, Britain’s multiple Olympic track cycling champion, on Wednesday 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 Chris Hoy Velodrome, opposite Scottish football giants Celtic’s Parkhead ground, has a 2,500 capacity which can be extended to 4,000 for major events.
It is the only indoor track in Scotland, which Hoy believes is key to the development of future athletes from the country.
“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.
The 36-year-old has said he wants to compete at Glasgow 2014 but will wait to see if he stays injury-free at the top of the sport before making a final decision.
“It would be fantastic to compete here in front of a home crowd and it would be a great way to end my career,” said Hoy, who won two golds at London 2012.
“It’s just whether my body is up to it or not — that’s the big question.”
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