HE will not compete again at the highest level, but Sir Chris Hoy is not quite ready to ride into the sunset.

The six-time Olympic gold medallist officially announced his decision to retire from professional cycling in his home city of Edinburgh yesterday.

However, he will mentor Scottish cyclists at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year, where he is also an ambassador.

The 37-year-old said he also plans to cycle for fun in the Pentland Hills on his mountain bike and perhaps ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats for charity.

But his decision means he will not compete in the Commonwealth Games in the velodrome named after him in Glasgow.

He said: “It is very disappointing.

“It would have been slightly greedy to think that would have been my ideal swansong but to be there as a spectator and to cheer on the team as a mentor is equally satisfying.”

He neatly sidestepped any thoughts of campaigning on either side of the referendum debate or appearing on television shows such as I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here or Strictly Come Dancing.

He said: “I won’t be getting involved in any political campaign.

“I have always tried to keep sport and politics separate.”

Of the celebrity television opportunities, he said: “I have had offers.

“It is not that I do not have frivolity in my life but doing it in front of millions of people on telly is not the way to do it for me.

“Strictly Come Dancing and the jungle do not appeal to me.

“It is nothing against people who do that. If I enjoyed dancing then I would be up for it.’’

As well as his mentoring duties, he has joined an advisory group to communicate with players at the Scottish Rugby Union.

He will also continue his charity work with Unicef and Scottish Action on Mental Health and will continue to work on designing and marketing his range of bikes.

The greatest ever British Olympian, he lifted medals in four successive events, taking a silver in Sydney 2000, a gold in Athens 2004, three golds in Beijing 2008 and two golds in London 2012.

Tributes to Sir Chris’s stellar career poured in from all walks of life.

First Minister Alex Salmond described the cyclist as “one of the best sportsmen these islands have ever seen”.

He said: “I know the whole of Scotland will be disappointed he could not compete in the velodrome that bears his name at the Commonwealth Games.

“However, I am sure people will understand his decision and wish him the very best for his well-earned retirement.”

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Sir Chris Hoy’s retirement marks the end of a remarkable career.

“His contribution to British sport and his six Olympic golds will continue to inspire.”

Hoy’s sporting peers queued up to add their plaudits, among them tennis star Andy Murray.

He said: “He is incredible at his sport and has great longevity which shows he is extremely professional and a hard worker.

“He’ll go down as one of the greatest sportsmen that Scotland and the UK has ever had.”
Graeme Obree, who broke the world hour cycling record in 1993 and 1994, said he believed that

Hoy had raised the expectation of what Scotland as a sporting nation can achieve.

He said: “Sir Chris has shown young people they too can live their dreams.”

Scottish swimmer and Olympic silver medallist Michael Jamieson said: “Legend is a word often over used but Sir Chris has written his name in the history books, having achieved everything that is possible in sport and more.

“I remember reading his  book after Beijing at a time when I was struggling to imagine reaching my goals for 2012.

“I have nothing but admiration and wish him all the best for the next chapter of his life.”
Sir Dave Brailsford, performance director of British Cycling, said: “Chris’s application, athleticism and dedication are second to none.

“He is a true Olympic champion who embodies all of the Olympic values.”

Louise Martin, chairwoman of sportscotland paid tribute to Hoy’s role as an ambassador in his home country.

She said: “Sir Chris had dearly hoped to compete at Glasgow 2014 but knows only too well how difficult it would have been to sustain the fiercely intense training regime required to succeed at that level.

“We fully back his decision  to retire, wish him every success in the future, and, above all, thank him profusely for his immense contribution to Scottish sport.”

David Grevemberg, chief executive of Glasgow 2014, said: “We respect Sir Chris Hoy’s decision to retire from international competition and pay tribute to his spectacular achievements at the highest levels of elite world sport over the past two decades.”

Councillor Archie Graham, chairman of Glasgow Life and the executive member for the Commonwealth Games, said: “The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome will inspire the next generation of track cyclists to go for gold, leaving a lasting legacy for years to come.”