Cycling: Olympic hero Hoy backing county teenager for London glory

Oct 9 2008 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

SCOTTISH Olympic hero Chris Hoy believes West Lothian cycling star Hamish Creber has what it takes to steal the limelight from under his nose at London 2012.

The 18-year-old underlined his promise by competing at this year’s Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy in July where he finished 38th in the junior event.

Creber — who lives in Kirkliston — soon went on to secure national junior glory at the British Mountain Biking Championships in Ringwood storming home with a lead of over two minutes.

And Hoy — who became the first Brit for a century to win three golds at an Olympic Games in Beijing — has backed Creber to lead a new generation of Scots in four years time.

“Scotland is very fortunate at the moment to have a very talented handful of Scottish cycling stars who are competing at the highest level,” said Hoy – who is an ambassador for the BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award, supported by Robinsons.

“Hamish is really dominating his age group and I don’t think it will be long before he breaks onto the senior scene.”

Hoy and company picked up 14 medals in Beijing to rocket British cycling to the top of the London 2012 funding list – with a proposed £100m donated every year in the run up.

Creber has been fast tracked to glory as part of British Cycling’s Olympic Development Programme but Hoy admitted investment will be key if he is to rub shoulders with the Flying Scot in four years time.

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.

Nominations for the awards can be made at www.bbc.co.uk/sportsunsunghero. The deadline is Friday, October 31.