Hoy launches cycling scholarship

 Chris Hoy this week unveiled details of a scholarship aimed at bringing on the next generation of track superstars.

Hoy is putting up his own money to fund two Chris Hoy Scholarship places for Scottish youngsters at the UCI's training schools in Switzerland and he is calling on Scottish businesses to back his vision with further funds. 

Hoy said: "The UCI school was established six years ago and has already helped in the development of Olympic medallists such as Ross Edgar and Vicky Pendleton.

"I would have loved the opportunity to use that facility when I was younger. As it was, Craig MacLean and I used to train together and it took us longer to reach international level because we were scrabbling around looking for coaching and the best preparation techniques.

"There's an opportunity to live and train with the best young cyclists from around the world and that can only prove beneficial in the long term.

"However, the school isn't just about racing. There's also an academic structure.

"We already have amazing talent at youth level and records are being broken by young athletes with minimal exposure to track time at Manchester or Meadowbank.

"Hopefully, with further support via the scholarship we could even develop cyclists as soon as the 2014 Commonwealth Games."

Hoy hopes eventually to launch his own academy, possibly at the new velodrome planned for Glasgow.

To find out more go to www.chrishoyscholarship.com