Triple Olympic gold-medallist Chris Hoy appeared at the Gleneagles Hotel yesterday, after an arduous journey back from Thailand, to declare Scotland's commitment to holding a round of the Track World Cup in the 2012-2013 season.
Set to take place at the brand new 'Chris Hoy' velodrome in Glasgow, the event will act as a precursor for the Commonwealth Games to be held in the city in 2014.
"To see world track cycling in Scotland ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games would be a massive boost for the sport in this country and will hopefully encourage more youngsters to get involved," said Hoy.
Hoy had regularly confirmed that he would continue until the London 2012 Olympics, but suggested that he may continue until 2014.
"I've always said I'll definitely keep going to London in 2012," said Hoy, "but then it's only another two years until the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and I hope I'll keep going for them".
Also at the Gleneagles Hotel, was British Cycling's Competition and Events manager Jonny Clay who hinted at an annual World Cup to be held in Britain.
"British Cycling has hosted a round of the track cycling World Cup in five of the last six years and will do so again at Manchester in 2009/2010 [as well as in 2010/2011]," said Clay.
"Our aim is to bid to host a Track World Cup in the UK every year and we are committed to bringing this to Glasgow in the winter of 2012/2013 if our bid is successful.
British Cycling has been in talks with the UCI about the possibility of this, and admitted, "they [the UCI] wouldn't be so keen to have one in the same city every year, but they seem keen on the World Cup coming to the UK every year [either in Manchester or the new velodromes in London and Glasgow]," reflecting Britain's status as the world's most successful track cycling nation.
The Track World Cup continues in Cali, Columbia on the weekend of December 11-13.
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