SIR Chris Hoy said he had pulled off the greatest win of his cycling career as he equalled Sir Steve Redgrave's haul of five gold medals at the Olympics.
The velodrome in London exploded with noise as Hoy and his compatriots stormed to a record-breaking victory in the men's team sprint last night.
Hoy, from Edinburgh, rested his head on his handlebars as he was mobbed by supporters eager to celebrate the mammoth win and later claimed the moment was "quite overwhelming".
He was cheered to victory by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and David Cameron, who were among a crowd of thousands who produced deafening cheers as Team GB beat France.
Hoy, 36, set a new world record in securing the win with his team-mates Jason Kenny, 24, and Philip Hindes, 19.
Later he said: "We knew it was possible, this hasn't come out of the blue. We knew if we put together the best possible race it could be done. We timed it perfectly and we nailed it. I dug deeper than ever before, I didn't want to let the guys down.
"I thought my first win in Athens was the most memorable but this is my greatest victory. We didn't expect to win.
"There's immense pride to do it here in the UK in front of a home crowd. It's phenomenal. You can't overstate what it means to us. Bradley [Wiggins] said to me after winning on Wednesday that it's a once in a lifetime opportunity, just enjoy it and go for it – and I did."
In his home city, fans and friends gathered at Ronde Bicycle Outfitters. Joining the group were Scottish cyclists Marco Librizzi and James McCallum.
Librizzi, who raced with Hoy in the Commonwealth Games and has known him since he was 15, said: "The teamwork they had to go through to get to that point in a short space of time is phenomenal.
"I thought it was going to be tough, but the final touches they have done in the last two or three months have really brought them on and they've absolutely stepped up a level.
"I think Chris is going to be pretty ecstatic with that. If you had asked him six months ago if he was going to win, he wouldn't have been able to nail that down. So to have won it, and break the world record doing it, means he's going to be over the moon."
Fellow Commonwealth Games cyclist McCallum said: "It's absolutely unbelievable to think they've won the Olympic gold. But breaking the world record three times – my mind is absolutely blown by it.
"Chris is part of the whole legacy of British cycling right now and it's only going to get better. Team GB has such a huge strength in depth – he keeps being pushed by the younger riders. I think Chris just vibes off that and we keep seeing him getting stronger and stronger.
"In two years' time we've got the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow – in the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome – and now he may be there. It could be his swansong. He could be Olympic and Commonwealth champion in Glasgow, it would be phenomenal."
Neil Dryden, owner of Ronde Bicycle Outfitters, said: "That was amazing, what a legend. He's definitely a local hero in Edinburgh and a national hero as well – he's a bit of a demigod really."
Across the city, crowds assembled at Festival Square to watch events from the velodrome on a large screen.
First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Congratulations to Sir Chris Hoy on his fifth gold medal. A legendary performance by Scotland's greatest-ever Olympian. Truly inspirational."
Commonwealth Games Minister Shona Robison added: "Huge congratulations to Sir Chris and his team-mates on achieving a gold medal and a new world record. This is the icing on the cake of all he has done for sport in Scotland and for Team GB.
"With an astounding number of medals under his belt, Sir Chris is truly living up to his title of Scotland's greatest-ever Olympian. He has done Scotland proud and is an inspiration."
Olympic gold medal swimmer Rebecca Adlington tweeted: "Yes SOOOO happy for @chrishoy 5th gold medal!!! Unbelievable athlete + person!! Absolute legend!"
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg posted: "Congratulations on an amazing world record and gold medal for Chris Hoy, Jason Kenny and Phil Hindes in the cycling."
Sir Chris gained his first Olympic gold medal in Athens in 2004, for the one-kilometre time-trial, and then amassed another three in Beijing in 2008.
l The Royal Mail will today issue a stamp commemorating the men's team sprint triumph.
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