Jack:SirChrishasmeontopoftheWorld

JACK CARLIN would love to follow in Sir Chris Hoy’s tyre tracks to Commonwealth gold after being inspired by him to World silver. The Paisley 20-year-old wowed the cycling world two weeks ago with a stunning ride in the men’s sprint during his first outing at that level. And as he prepared to board the flight for the Gold Coast with the rest of a track squad expected to dominate Team Scotland’s medal haul Down Under, he revealed some words of wisdom from our nation’s greatest Olympian sent his confidence into orbit.

As he faced up to another banked battle with champion Aussie Matthew Glaetzer, Carlin said: “Chris has inspired a lot of people and me personally. His race was one of the few cycling events I watched at London 2012 because I was more interested in the road and the mountain biking at that time. But watching him in the Keirin, it was just amazing.

“And I don’t think he’s only inspired the sprinters –it’s the whole team going out to Gold Coast. It’s because of cyclists like him who inspired a whole new generation of riders. I’ve met him a few times – out in Apeldoorn when I was coming up to the sprint finals he popped down to the track centre and was giving me a bit of advice in how to ride and to have confidence in myself. These little things really help.

“He’s a hard man to follow, he’s Team GB’s most decorated Olympian but for me it’s all about getting one medal first.”