Chris Froome’s Tour de France victory is a “huge achievement” while Britain’s back-to-back wins in the event are “monumental”, says six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy.
Froome, 28, won the epic three-week road race by more than five minutes after it ended in Paris on Sunday evening.
It means that Britain has scored the impressive feat of producing two riders who have won the Tour de France in consecutive years, with first Sir Bradley Wiggins and now Froome.
“It is a huge achievement and I almost feel sorry for Chris because people are almost getting blase about it,” Hoy said.
“People think it is another British winner so that is what we should expect. But if you take a step back and get some perspective, you can see what a monumental achievement it is for him to have done this.”
Speaking at the National Lottery Anniversary Run at London’s Olympic Stadium, Sir Chris said: “For Britain to have two riders winning the Tour de France back-to-back is fantastic for British cycling.
“Just a few years ago we did not have anyone who could podium, but now we have two cyclists who can win the Tour in consecutive years.
“It is a phenomenal achievement and what Chris has done is phenomenal.”
Wiggins pulled out of this year’s race through injury, meaning that his fellow Team Sky rider Froome immediately became the hot favourite to bring home the honours.