Sir Chris Hoy insists it is not impossible for Great Britain's track cycling team to match their astonishing 2012 haul of seven gold medals at the Rio Olympics next month.
Hoy, Britain's most decorated Olympian with six golds and one silver medal to his name, believes widespread pessimism over the team's prospects, heightened by the suspension and subsequent departure of technical director Shane Sutton, are broadly misplaced.
Hoy, who retired one year after claiming double gold in London, told Press Association Sport: "We are unlikely to match the medals tally from Beijing or London on the track, but it is not impossible.
"To win 70 per cent of gold medals from 10 track events is almost unheard of - nobody else has done anything close to that - and it was all down to the team's hard work and preparation and meticulous planning.
"But I think this team will also do really well. I think we will be the top track cycling nation once again with at least four gold medals and maybe five.
"It is exciting to think what could happen if we start off on the right foot. When we won gold in the team sprint on the first night in Beijing it had a significant impact on the whole team and that could happen again in Rio."
Hoy was speaking to launch the news that Nissan will be giving a gold, electric Nissan LEAF to all its gold medal winning athlete ambassadors in Rio.
And he clearly expects his former team-mate Sir Bradley Wiggins to be back on top of the podium again in the men's team pursuit - a result which would see Wiggins usurp Hoy with eight Olympic medals to his name. Wiggins already has four golds.
Referring to Wiggins' continued enthusiasm for the sport at the age of 36, Hoy added: "If you're still performing and enjoying it, and continually finding new targets to keep things fresh, then retirement could be the worst thing you do.
"Bradley clearly loves the sport and all that comes with racing in the Olympics. It means a huge amount to him to be a part of the team with the chance to go quicker and win, and I imagine a final against the Aussies will be one of the highlights of the Games.
"It is going to be quite odd for me watching the Games. There is nothing like the feeling of being up there the moment before you race. They're moments you know you will remember for the rest of your life, but you know you can only do it for a period.
"I can appreciate all that now and I did it until I was 37 and I wouldn't change anything about it. I am happy to have retired and now to have one of the best seats in the house."
:: Sir Chris Hoy is a Nissan ambassador. Nissan is the Official Automotive Partner to Team GB and ParalympicsGB and will be giving a gold all-electric Nissan LEAF to its gold medal winning athlete ambassadors during the Rio 2016 Games. www.nissan.co.uk
Source: PA-WIRE
