i’m not a huge track fan but i do have a great deal of respect for this man and for his achievements, a respect that has grown with this very human and honest retirement announcement.

there can’t be many people who would recognise that their time has come – well, there’s aren’t! usually they/we drag out the demise and can’t accept the realities of the situation, happens all the time – and to have the integrity to step down ahead of a championships that will be held in a stadium that has their name on it, well, you have to take your hat off to that.

eleven time World Champion and six time Olympic Champion, says it all really, and seems a decent fellow to boot. seems foolish, these days, to have heroes, but if the sport needs icons it could do worse than look to this guy.

Sir Chris Hoy – a proper crankpunk.

and here he is having some fun with Danny MacAskill