Chris Hoy misses out as first 50 enter British Hall of Fame

Published on Thursday 17 December 2009 22:19

OLYMPIC champions Chris Boardman and Jason Queally are among the first 50 names inducted into British Cycling's Hall of Fame – but there was no place for Sir Chris Hoy.

A British Cycling panel yesterday revealed the names of 50 former sport administrators, volunteers, staff and riders no longer competing at the highest level to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as the national governing body celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Boardman won individual pursuit gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games before going on to wear the Tour de France yellow jersey, while Queally triumphed on the opening day of the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the kilometre time-trial in a moment viewed as the catalyst for the current successes.

Queally is currently in training to race as a pilot for visually impaired Paralympian Anthony Kappes in 2012.

Britain are the world's foremost track cycling nation, having won seven out of ten Olympic titles in Beijing in 2008, with Hoy winning three golds to add to his one-kilometre triumph in Athens four years earlier.

But the Scot, who received a knighthood in the Queen's New Year Honours earlier this year, has been overlooked – for now at least – because he is continuing to compete at the highest level.

However, veteran rider Malcolm Elliott, who competed in the 2009 Tour of Britain, is included.

Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton, panel member, said: "We made a conscious decision not to select elite riders who are still competing at an international level or coaches and managers at the top of their game.

"We also agreed we should recognise administrators and volunteers who have been active in the sport over many years and have made a significant contribution to it during that time. There have also been several posthumous awards."

Through Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins – both also omitted from the list – Britain's velodrome dominance is beginning to show signs of spilling on to the road and their forefathers are honoured.

Robert Millar, whose 1984 Tour de France fourth-placed finish Wiggins equalled last summer, was included. The Scot, who also won the Tour's King of the Mountains jersey 25 years ago, is joined in the list by one of Britain's most successful road racers Tom Simpson, who died during the 1967 Tour while climbing Mont Ventoux in Provence and after taking amphetamines, and Tour stage winner Barry Hoban.

Olympic and world medallists Yvonne McGregor, Craig MacLean, Paul Manning, Beryl Burton, Hugh Porter – now a renowned commentator – and Graeme Obree are among those inducted.