Sir Chris Hoy unveils ‘surprise’ mural and charity link for Commonwealth Games

The Olympic cycling champion was among the first to see the image on a railway arch along Glasgow’s Clydeside Expressway on Friday morning.

He said it was a “really wonderful surprise” to see the mural, which is one of seven that will take over the archways with a new design being revealed each week.

The Olympian also travelled to Glasgow to announce the partnership between the Commonwealth Games Glasgow and his Tour de Four charity event, a fundraising cycle ride taking place later this year.

Sir Chris’s charity has become an official provider of the Games as well as an official supporter of Team Scotland.

The event, which raised more than £3.1 million in its inaugural year in 2025, will take place in September, and it will support five major UK cancer charities and challenge perceptions of people living with stage four cancer.

“Today I’m here for a couple of reasons. First of all, to unveil an amazing mural from a shot that was taken of me back in 2006 – so 20 years ago at the Melbourne Games, when the Scottish sprint team in track cycling beat the English in the final for the gold medal,” Sir Chris said.

“It’s a shot of me riding around afterwards looking pretty tired, still breathing hard, but carrying the flag above my head, and it’s a really wonderful surprise to see it up on the wall.”

The mural can be found near the Scottish Event Campus which will be one of the four venues that will stage the Games from July 23 to August 2.

Speaking about the collaboration between the Glasgow Games and his Tour de Four charity event, Sir Chris said the whole aim is to raise money for cancer charities across the UK and to change perceptions of what a stage four cancer diagnosis might mean.

“I’m so happy that this partnership has come to fruition,” he said.

“It means a huge amount to me personally. I’ve had strong links with the Commonwealth Games since 1998. It was one of my all-time ambitions when I was a teenager starting out in cycling to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, and I’ve won two gold medals for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.”

He continued: “So to have that historical link with the Commonwealth Games, and that affinity with them, and to have my new passion and my new purpose in life linked with the Commonwealth Games, and particularly with Glasgow, it’s a wonderful thing.”

Sir Chris said he will “definitely” be at the Glasgow Games in person this summer, and that he is most looking forward to seeing the response of the Scottish crowds at the velodrome.

“I’ll be there, definitely, hopefully at the velodrome and the opening ceremony as well, maybe even the closing ceremony. I’m not sure what the plans are just now, but I’ll definitely be there to see as much of the action as possible, and hoping for some more great Glaswegian sunshine as well,” he said.

“I think (I’m most looking forward to) just seeing and hearing the response of the Scottish crowds at the velodrome.

“The velodrome is always a place to be for atmosphere, and for noise, and for drama, and I think that there’s so many great Scottish riders that there’s going to be so many top names for the home crowd to cheer on, and the atmosphere is going to be outstanding.

He said he is also looking forward to being out and about in Glasgow and “soaking up the atmosphere” when the Games are taking place.

Circling back to his Tour de Four charity, Sir Chris said the main two rides for the event in September are already sold out, but he said there are still places for the static bikes in the track centre and for the family loop, which is a 1k loop inside the velodrome complex.

He said people can still be part of the event by donating.

“It really is going to be a big challenge to try and beat the £3.1 million target that we achieved from last year,” Sir Chris said.

“Every single pound will go towards improving people’s lives, living with cancer, and for the future as well.”

He added: “If you go to tourde4.com, any donation at all would be massively appreciated.”