Wiggins calls for Hoy knighthood

Great Britain cyclist Bradley Wiggins has called for his fellow Beijing gold medalist Chris Hoy to be rewarded for his work in the sport with a knighthood.

Wiggins won double Olympic gold in China, to take his career total the three, while Hoy now has four golds after picking up a hat-trick of wins in Beijing.

And Wiggins is adamant that Team GB's efforts at the Laoshan Velodrome should be formally recognised.

Wiggins told The Guardian: "It's got to be Sir Chris hasn't it? We've grown up together and the guy's a legend.

"We've got some exceptional men and women in the team but Chris did the business. It would be a knighthood for the whole of British cycling."

Reflecting on his own chances of receiving the honour, he added: "Sir Brad? Who knows? I'm an OBE already. If I'd got one gold in Beijing it would have been a CBE but I got two golds. I'd love it if they thought it might be worth a knighthood.

"I'm quite patriotic in that sense. I like that Queen and country thing. Having grown up in London, with Kilburn two miles down the road from the Palace, it means something.

"There is also the fact that knighthoods mean a lot to a specific sport when, like cycling, it's outside the mainstream."

Wiggins also revealed that he has yet to speak to Mark Cavendish, who he partnered unsuccessfully in the Madison as he chased a third gold of his own, since the Olympics.

"Cav is like my little brother and I love him dearly, but we left the stadium without saying a word to each other and we've yet to speak.

"I was knackered but he was bit cocky. Who wouldn't be when you're 22, you've just won four stages of the Tour de France and you're riding with a double Olympic champion?"