Meeting Sir Chris Hoy

I'm very fortunate to be one of around twelve business leaders to be invited to a lunch with Sir Chris Hoy in Manchester on the 20th May. This has been organised by the great folk at Jaguar as part of their Manchester celebrates Jaguar month. Sir Chris Hoy is an ambassador for the brand.

Co-incidentally, I happen to be reading his auto-biography - Heroes, Villains and Velodromes - on a short break with the wife. As a result, I've got my questions for him all teed up. I'll share them with you in advance, or - just in case you're reading Chris - you're fully prepared!

1. What role did Craig Maclean play in your development as a rider? Seems that both of you fed off of each other.
2. 1996 World Championships in Russia. Three of you are there. No mechanics. No coach. No psychiatrist. You have a broken arm. What did you learn?
3. There were times when you were riding for Team GB, yet signing on the dole, due to the lack of funding in the sport. How did that make you feel?
4. Tell me about the impact of world championships in Copenhagen and the psychological impact of beating Tournant bought you?
5. What is the single biggest thing that working with Shane Sutton taught you?
6. You are only 1 of 2 people to go under one minute for the kilo on your record attempt in Bolivia. Any unfinished business with this record?
7. Mark Cavendish rejected the science of stats and psychologists whilst with British Cycling. What have you gained from working with Steve Peters?
8. What are the "known unknowns" for London 2012?
9. In the Palma 2007 World Championships the Australian coach was quoted as saying "We've had a righteous kick up the arse." How do you feel the Australians have reacted to that subsequently?
10. What can business leaders learn from track cyclists? (Ex track cyclist Denise Hampson has some interesting views on this).
11. What role has Chris Boardmans "secret squirrel" technology had in your performance as an athlete? Cycling is a sport which goes hand in hand with an athletes individual capability combined with advancements in bike technology.
12. What psychological impact did the UCI decision to stop the kilo event after the 2004 Athens Olympics have on you?
13. If one of the original Kuwahara ET BMX bikes came up on e-Bay, would you bid for it? (Anybody remember that? I used to own one!).
14. Your parents have followed you all over the world and encourage you from an early age. What impact did this have on your life and your ultimate success?
15. If someone said the name "Steven McNeil" to you, seconds before a big race, what feelings would that conjour up? (You need to read the book to understand that one).