Chris Froome's Tour de France victory is a "huge achievement" and Britain's back-to-back wins is "monumental", six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy said today.
Froome, 28, is set to win as he leads by more than five minutes going into the last day of the epic three-week road race and will not be challenged on the traditional procession into Paris.
It means that Britain has scored the impressive feat of producing two riders who have won the Tour de France in consecutive years with Sir Bradley Wiggins and now Froome.
"It is a huge achievement and I almost feel sorry for Chris because people are almost getting blasé about it," Sir Chris said
"People think it is another British winner so that is what we should expect - but if you take a step back and get some perspective, you can see what a monumental achievement it is for him to have done this.
Speaking at the National Lottery Anniversary Run at London's Olympic Stadium, he said: "For Britain to have two riders winning the Tour de France back-to-back is fantastic for British cycling.
"Just a few years ago we did not have anyone who could podium but now we have two cyclists who can win the Tour in consecutive years, it is a phenomenal achievement and what Chris has done is phenomenal."
Sir Bradley pulled out of this year's race through injury, meaning that his Kenyan-born fellow Team Sky rider immediately became the hot favourite to bring home the honours.
Sir Chris said: "I think it would have been lovely to have seen Bradley racing this year and it would have been fantastic to see both him and Chris competing. Last year was Bradley's year and this year is Chris's."
