AS SHOES to fill go, they don’t come much bigger than six-time Olympic gold medalist Sir Chris Hoy.

But British Cycling head coach Shane Sutton believes such is the talent of Ed Clancy that he would fit anywhere in the track cycling squad, even if it means picking up from where Hoy left off.

With Hoy hanging up his helmet after the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the British public needn’t worry about finding his substitute as the squad already seemingly has a ready-made replacement.

Clancy was at it again at London 2012, retaining his team pursuit title but this time also claiming a bronze in the omnium, demonstrating his power and speed over an extra six grueling events.

Sutton admits they are looking at Clancy for the team sprint but doesn’t think his team pursuit days, a quarter he has led to four world and two European titles as well as double Olympic glory, are over just yet.

“Ed Clancy has moved to the team sprint and we really feel that he has a lot to offer in that team,” said Sutton, a Gillette Great Starts ambassador with the campaign concluding at an event attended by Sir Chris Hoy and Liam Tancock who celebrated with the successful recipients of this year’s grants.

“He will come back over time to the team pursuit I am sure of it, but he has the ability to really set the team sprint alight.

“He has been a fantastic cyclist for some time now and showed at London 2012 with what he did in the omnium just what he is all about.

“With Sir Chris moving out of the team there is going to be a void to fill and it would be silly not to look at Ed after what he has got about him.”

Clancy was not alone in enjoying success at London 2012, Great Britain ending the Games with 12 medals – double that of second-placed Germany – and with eight of them gold.

And after being one of the masterminds behind the host nation’s success on two wheels, Sutton was grateful for having athletes like Clancy to mould, insisting most of the hard work is already done for him.

“I think we tend to live in a bubble in British Cycling and the success we had still hasn’t hit me properly,” he added. “It is probably the same as if you play for Man United, you don’t really see what is going on outside.

“And that is the same for me. I am just a normal guy that comes from a little council estate in the back of Australia but to be aligned with such greatness makes you pinch yourself every now and again.

“It has just been our time in the sport and to meet all these greats like Ed and to work with them has just been a pure pleasure.”

The 2012 Gillette ‘Great Starts’ campaign celebrates community coaches and inspires the next generation of coaches by providing them with grants to fund their next level qualifications.