Tributes from the cycling and wider sporting world have poured in for Sir Chris Hoy after the track cycling legend revealed his cancer is terminal and that he has only few years to live. Cyclingnews picked out some of the most prominent (not only) cycling personalities who arrived to tribute the six-time Olympic gold medallist.
Tour de France stage win record holder Sir Mark Cavendish described Hoy as a "Hero of a human being" after being part of the same generation that gave birth to the strong British group of (road) cyclists that came later in 2010s.
Former Scottish footballer and TV pundit Ally McCoist wrote: "You, my friend are a superstar in every sense of the word. Love and strength from us all."
"Dealing with this in the way only Chris Hoy could. Always the inspiration," said fellow Scot and highly decorated para-track cyclist Neil Fachie.
Cycling TV presenter and journalist Orla Chennaoui described Hoy as a "A wonder of a human," with fellow Olympic gold medallist and cycling commentator Joanna Rowsell replying "So loved by everyone. Sending strength to you and family," to Hoy's post.
"Such sad news. Chris is a British sporting legend. To face his diagnosis with such positivity is inspiring," wrote UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on X. "The whole country is behind him and his family."
The list of people who paid tribute to Hoy is endless, with fellow Olympic champions Matthew Pinsent, Dames Kelly Holmes and Jessica Ennis-Hill among them, alongside Britain’s most successful Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey and world track sprint champion Harrie Lavreysen.
Hoy won his first gold Olympic medal in 1km time trial at Athens 2004, before adding three more at Beijing 2008 in the sprint, team sprint and keirin. He extended his tally to six during his home games at London 2012 after winning the team sprint and keirin again.
While he has been working on a memoir – All That Matters: My Toughest Race Yet – in the past year, Hoy has also been putting his energy into creating an annual 'Tour de 4' charity fundraising bike ride in order to change the perception of stage 4 cancer diagnoses, to show that, "Stage 4's not just, right, this is the end of your life. There's more to be lived."