Hoy believes Oliphant has potential for future glory
olympic gold medallist shows his support for cyclist after his misfortune in tour of britain
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CHRIS Hoy believes Wick’s Evan Oliphant can bounce back from a nightmare Tour of Britain and make an impression in 2009.
Oliphant, 26, suffered four punctures in eight days on the 715-mile tour but looks to have regained a contract with Plowman Craven after finishing third at the final British Grand Prix in Yorkshire.
Hoy, who became the first Briton to claim three gold medals at an Olympic Games for a century in Beijing, reckons 2009 could prove decisive for Oliphant.
“Scotland is very fortunate to have a very talented handful of cyclists who are competing at the highest level,” said Hoy, who is an ambassador for the BBC Sports unsung hero award.
“Evan has been making great strides in road cycling and has the potential to be one of the best. He had some awful luck at this year’s Tour of Britain, but I would back him to bounce back.
“There is plenty happening on the track with the Commonwealth Games in two years and on the road and if all goes to plan Scotland will have a fantastic chance to do well.
“There should be a whole generation of a younger breed of cyclists in this country dominating rather than the same people all the time.”
Oliphant narrowly missed out on a place in Great Britain’s world road championship squad in Italy and will now spend his winter in Australia for the third successive year.
Hoy believes investment will be pivotal if Oliphant is to banish his rocky 2008 and make a serious impact on the world stage next year.
He said: “There are the facilities in Glasgow which are fantastic and hopefully we will see some world class facilities in Edinburgh, but it’s crucial we don’t rest on our laurels.
“Other countries have let it slip but it is important Scotland doesn’t fall into the same trap and they continue the amazing job they have been doing.”
Hoy is favourite to win the BBC’s sports personality title and become the first Scottish winner since Liz McColgan in 1991.
But he has got his own nomination for the unsung hero award which rewards volunteers at sports clubs across the country.
“My unsung hero would definitely be Ray Harris. He was a coach at Dunedin Cycling Club when I was about 14 and he really made a huge impression on me,” said Hoy.
“I’ve known him since the very early 90s, but still keep in contact with him via e-mail, which is fantastic. Without him I probably wouldn’t have four Olympic golds – so I owe him an awful lot.”
Now in its sixth year the BBC Sports unsung hero award, supported by Robinsons, recognises and rewards outstanding contributions by individuals at the grassroots level of local sport.
