It was inevitable that Chris Hoy’s autobiography would be coming to a bookshop near you – the only surprise is that it’s taken so long after he won his three gold medals at the Beijing Olympics.

Unlike many sporting biographies, this is worth the wait. Written in the no-nonsense, down-to-earth style he is famous for, it is his account of the highs and lows of being a top international cyclist. More than that, he gives his thoughts on the process that made him what he is today.

His Beijing days are restricted to one chapter, plus the prologue, so the reader really does get to see how, other than eating a certain breakfast cereal, you get to be Britain’s best Olympic cyclist. Hoy takes you from his BMX racing days through the highs and lows of three Olympics and countless international events and explains some of the technical details involved.

Of course, he doesn’t reveal all, as he is still very much in training. This is a worthy Christmas present for anyone interested in cycling.