Six times Olympic gold medal winner Sir Chris Hoy has said he would love the job of cycling champion. But first someone has to persuade the government to actually create the post.

Creating the role of cycling champion was one of the recommendations of the Get Britain Cycling report. However, the government has yet to commit to implementing this recommendation or indeed most of the other items contained in the report.

In an interview with The Times, Sir Chris said he was evangelical about cycling and while he had no interest in a career in politics he would make an exception for a job involving promoting cycling, increasing people's enjoyment in the sport, and building cycling infrastructure.

“Cycling has given me so much,” he said. “I have had such an amazing experience in my life and I want to give a little back and see other people enjoying that too and to see our country become like other ones where cycling is just part of the culture.

“Becoming a politician has never appealed to me — not interested in going on to an international Olympic committee. But for something like this, where you can imagine the kind of legacy, where you can see in 15 to 20 years’ time a complete culture change, that would be a massive thing to be involved in. It does appeal to me.”

If not now, when?

Despite the government's refusal to accept the need for the post of cycling champion  Sir Chris said that this was the best imaginable time to capitalise on Britain’s recent cycling success.

“If we don’t do it now, when can we do it?” he said. “We are at the peak of our attention from the general public. If we don’t do it now people just settle into it and think, ‘Well, this is the way it’s always been, we are different from the rest of Europe and that’s just the way it is’. We do have to strike now.

“I would love to see more people on bikes. I am not saying it as a Jamie Oliver crusade — one person trying to change things in a massive way — but if I can help out in making it more easy, more appealing, more popular. I am a bit evangelical about it, but I genuinely believe that cycling can change people’s lives for the better.”

What he become the U.K.'s cycling czar if asked? “In theory I would love to do it. But it’s a massive commitment. You would have to eat, sleep and breathe it.

“Imagine in ten to 20 years’ time, bikes everywhere, and the immense sense of pride that what you have committed your life to since you were a wee boy is becoming popular and people are understanding it and enjoying it.”