Sir Chris Hoy has described Philip Hindes as one of the best sprinters in the world and believes the Manchester-based star is capable of winning Olympic gold once again.
Hindes and Sir Chris were part of the team sprint squad that – along with Jason Kenny – won gold at London 2012.
While Sir Chris retired in 2013, the GB team sprint squad have not won a major championship since the home Olympic Games four years ago but he believes that counts for little now.
“The team sprint team has the potential to win gold,” said Sir Chris, who is Britain’s most successful Olympian with six titles.
“Everyone is looking beyond them because they have not won a medal for so long but I actually think if Callum Skinner can get it right and deliver a decent last lap, I think they have the fastest ‘man one’ in the world [in Philip Hindes] and the fastest ‘man two’ in the world [in Kenny] and without wishing to pile pressure on them, I think they could win the team sprint.
“If they do that, then I think Jason Kenny could go on and win the keirin and the sprint as well.”
The 40-year-old was speaking at Six Day London’s ‘Inside Track with Sir Chris Hoy’ event in London.
Six Day London, which was launched in 2015, sees some of the world’s best cyclists competing over the course of six nights at the Lee Valley VeloPark in a party-like atmosphere.
And Sir Chris was in bullish mood when he was asked about Team GB’s chances in the track cycling at Rio 2016 – the first Olympic Games in 20 years where the Scot won’t be competing.
The 11-time world champion said: “I think Team GB will be the top nation in the cycling. They won’t dominate in the same way that we have at the last two Games before Rio 2016 but I am expecting four gold medals and maybe three minor medals – with the potential of five gold medals.
“They will play that down but that is what I think they can achieve: [I expect golds] in the men and women’s team pursuit, Laura Trott in the omnium, Jason Kenny at least one gold medal and then you have Mark Cavendish in the omnium, Kenny in his two other events, Becky James as well.
“Four or five gold medals are not unachievable at all and if they do that then they will be the top performing nation.”
Six Day London takes place between 25-30 October 2016 at Lee Valley VeloPark on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Half term fun, with or without the kids. Tickets on sale now at www.sixday.com
Image courtesy of Philip Hindes via YouTube, with thanks.
