Sir Bradley Wiggins is greatest ever British cyclist says Sir Chris Hoy

Sir Chris Hoy, Britain’s most successful Olympian, says that Sir Bradley Wiggins does not have to win an Olympic medal in Rio to be considered the nation’s greatest-ever cyclist.

Speaking at the launch of his Flying Fergus children’s book series, Hoy told Press Association Sport that he thought Wiggins would take ‘huge pride’ were he to edge ahead of Hoy himself by securing another medal in this year’s Olympic Games.

“I think he plays it down, but he will take huge pride winning five gold medals and to have more total medals than anybody else. He collects records left, right and centre and even without the Olympics he is the greatest cyclist Britain has ever produced.

“He does not have to win a medal to do that because no-one has done what he has done across the board – to win the Tour de France, to hold the one-hour world record, and to be a multiple world and Olympic champion across disciplines – there is no-one even close to that.”

Quite where Wiggins ranks himself is another matter. After winning his fourth gold medal, in the time trial in London, he said: “To be mentioned in the same breath as Sir Steve Redgrave or Sir Chris Hoy is an honour as it is, but it is all about the golds. Once you have been an Olympic champion, you don’t talk about the other medals.”

Sir Bradley Wiggins’ guide to winter cycling

Rio will be Wiggins’ fifth Olympics and Hoy believes enthusiasm has been the key to his longevity. “He must enjoy it as he doesn’t have to keep riding his bike,” he said. “He could have retired after London or after winning the Tour. He could have said, ‘that is it for me, I have achieved everything’ – and more than he or anyone could have imagined.”

Chris Boardman last month warned that Team GB’s track cyclists may struggle to match the highs of Beijing and London in Rio. Hoy agrees and says that despite securing seven gold medals in each of the previous Games, the team will have done well if it secures as many as three in Rio.

"You aim for 10 golds and they will be doing everything they can to achieve that, but if we could achieve a 30 per cent success rate you would be happy.

“You look at swimming, where they have 36 medals on offer, and if you were to say we are going to win 12 golds, you would say that is incredible. Whereas in cycling if we win three golds out of 10, some people would say, 'well that is not as good as the seven last time'. But if we win gold in the men's and women's team pursuit, and the women's omnium, that would be a fantastic result."