CHRIS HOY

Craig Maclean, Chris Hoy and Jason Queally
©ALLSPORT

WEEK 2
Date: August 7

When a team-mate becomes a rival

This last week has been particularly hectic. Not only have I been competing in the British Track Championships at Manchester Velodrome, but I've also had to move all my belongings out of my rented house in Manchester back up to my hometown of Edinburgh, as my lease runs out before I return from Sydney.

On top of this, I have had to fit in the on-going physiotherapy treatment sessions for my knee, plus training in between all the racing.

With Olympic selection secured, there was far less pressure than usual at this year's nationals. I only rode the individual sprint and the Olympic (team) sprint, choosing instead to train through the week, with minimal disturbance to my normal routine.

This meant that I wasn't as rested as I would normally be for the national championships, but as it worked out, it didn't seem to affect my racing adversely. A gold medal in the Olympic sprint, with club teammates Craig Maclean and James Taylor, was a great morale-boosting start to the week, and this was followed with a silver in the individual sprint, behind Craig.

This was one of the rare opportunities that Craig and I have had to race head-to-head in proper competition. It is always strange competing against someone you train with, day-in, day-out, and know so well. We both were well aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses, so it turned out to be particularly close racing.

In the end I lost the final deciding match sprint in the best-of-three series, by half-a-bike length. I was disappointed, but at least I had the consolation of being beaten by one of my two team-mates for Sydney.

My drive up north with all my worldly belongings went better than anticipated, particularly since my car is on its last legs and I half expected to be sitting on the hard shoulder half way up the M6. It was great to be back home again, even if it was only for a couple of days.

It was the last time I would see my friends and family in Edinburgh before I head off to Australia on Saturday. I had a lovely meal with my parents and girlfriend Clare on the Sunday evening.

My mum seems to be far more excited than I am by the prospect of me participating at the Games. She gets talking to strangers when she is out shopping in town, and somehow always manages to steer the conversation around to her son competing at the Olympics!

I'm always taking the mickey out of her, but really it's nice that both her and my dad are so proud that they feel like telling complete strangers all about me.

Next week I will be writing from Brisbane, as we will have arrived there at the BOA holding camp, and the real countdown will have begun. Until then, more training, more physiotherapy treatment and - o joy! - the 28-hour journey. I can't wait....

Read Chris's diary for WEEK 1 ...

Read Chris's diary for WEEK 3 ...

Read Chris's diary for WEEK 4 ...

Read Chris's diary for WEEK 5 ...