Paddy McGuinness Recounts Demanding Training with Sir Chris Hoy for Charity Cycling Challenge

TV presenter Paddy McGuinness has revealed that Sir Chris Hoy pushed him to his “absolute limits” during their training sessions in preparation for McGuinness’s ultra-endurance cycling challenge for BBC Children in Need. McGuinness, 51, is scheduled to commence his ride of nearly 300 miles (483km) from Wrexham in Wales later, with the goal of reaching the finish line in Glasgow, Scotland, on Friday. “Chris Hoy has been absolutely, as you can imagine with someone like him, outstanding, first class, brilliant with his advice,” McGuinness stated. He added, “When I go on a bike ride with Chris, I really know about it, because he pushes me to my absolute limits.” McGuinness, who hosts a Sunday morning program on BBC Radio 2, will cycle through three nations and eight counties on a modified Raleigh Chopper bike. The Bolton-native explained that his motivation for undertaking the challenge came from the individuals he had encountered who have benefited from projects funded by BBC Children in Need. “When you meet these people… that’s what spurs you on, and when you see the work that’s being done in and around it, and again, when you’re out and about, just people stopping me,” he said. Last month, Sir Chris, 48, announced his diagnosis with terminal prostate cancer. The Olympic gold medallist informed BBC Breakfast that the news of his diagnosis arrived “completely out the blue,” further stating it had been the “toughest year of our lives so far by some stretch.” He described chemotherapy as having been “one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever faced and gone through.” However, Sir Chris added that he has endeavored to concentrate on positive aspects, viewing it as “a good thing, we’re here to try and to start punching back.” This year’s televised Children in Need appeal is set to occur on Friday, the day McGuinness hopes to conclude his cycling challenge, at 19:00 GMT on BBC One. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.