Sir Chris Hoy is looking for more power – calling for the next generation of British Cycling’s sprint stars.
The six-time Olympic champion and 11-time world champion is leading the search for powerful athletes aged 15 to 21 to be fast-tracked into the world of sprint cycling in a joint initiative between UK Sport, the English Institute of Sport (EIS) and British Cycling.
#DiscoverYourPower aims to unearth riders who could challenge for gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and beyond and was launched on the opening day of the Track Cycling World Championships in London, the final major event in the velodrome prior to the Rio Olympics.
Previous UK Sport and EIS talent identification campaigns have discovered Helen Glover, who went on to win Olympic rowing gold at London 2012 and Sochi 2014 skeleton gold medallist Lizzy Yarnold.
Hoy, though, says it is not just about talent, but application, too.
“I’m a big believer that talent is an over-rated word,” the 39-year-old Scot said.
“It implies you can just turn up, train how you want. To me, that’s misleading. It’s all about the work you need to get there.
“Attitude is the biggest thing I’ve seen in champions in all kinds of sport. Attitude, for me, is the clear indicator of potential or future success.”
Genetics are important for a sprinter – you need the fast-twitch muscle fibres – but commitment is, too, as training demands no let up.
“Every day as a sprinter is like race day,” added Hoy, who retired after becoming Britain’s most decorated Olympian at London 2012.
British Cycling performance pathway manager Ian Yates said: “Talent selection, identity and transfer are all essential parts of our recruitment processes and important aspects of the Rider Route, British Cycling’s programme to help the most promising riders become the stars of world and Olympic cycling.
“The Great Britain cycling team has always looked at all avenues for talent, be it those coming through the club system like Becky James, those moving between disciplines like Shanaze Reade, and those that can transfer quickly from another sport like (former heptathlete) Katy Marchant.
“We are setting our sights on Tokyo and beyond and we’ll leave nothing to chance in finding and developing the best British sporting talent.”
* Find our more and sign up for #DiscoverYourPower at www.uksport.gov.uk/talent