In a normal year, Chris Hoy would be looking forward to a summer’s rest - with the track cycling season concluded until the World Cup later in the year.

But October’s Delhi Games - where he hopes to help Scotland defend their team sprint title against main rivals England and Australia - has given 2010 a double focus.

"It's hard when you have two major targets in a year about six months apart," he said.

“You can’t afford to turn up at the Commonwealth Games half-baked because the standard is so high. There may be some sports where the competition is not so good but in track cycling, certainly track sprinting; you are only missing the French.

"Ultimately the World Championships are the main event of the year and a crucial event in terms of getting on the team for London, especially now there is only one spot.

"But there was never any doubt that I would do the Commonwealth Games as well as I love competing for Scotland.”

The four-time Olympic champion returned home to Edinburgh to launch Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week - a sportscotland initiative that will involve over 700 schools across Scotland this week.

Hoy, who was also announced as a supporter of the bank’s London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic partnership, met over 600 children during his flying visit to Edinburgh, where he took part in a range of sports.

But talk of retaining his titles is never far from his thoughts.

Cycling’s world governing body have already controversially altered the programme to restore some much needed gender parity and now they want to limit each country to only have one entry per event.

Luckily for Hoy his three targets - the sprint, team sprint and keirin - remain on the schedule but he concedes it will be a challenge just to make the team.

“A lot of the riders feel frustrated that the powers that be are making these decisions without any consolation and I think it’s bad for cycling fans,” said Hoy.

“However, it’s good to know if you beat the best in Britain, you know you’ve got every chance against the best in the world.

“As long as I stay British number one I will be able to defend my titles at London 2012 and other cyclists aren’t so lucky and can’t say that.

“If I am not that best man then I’ll shake the other guys hand and say well done.”
Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week takes place from 7-11 June 2010.

To find out more visit www.schoolsportweekscotland.org