Sir Chris Hoy has shared details about his cancer diagnoses at the Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational on Friday, as he finished 20th alongside television presenter Chris Harris.
The six-time Olympic cycling champion competed as part of Academy Motorsport, finishing the race in 37 minutes and 34.746 seconds in their Mustang Dark Horse R.
The pair's strongest performance came during their fifth lap of eight, recording a time of 4:30.864.
Despite being diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer nearly two years ago and given just two to four years to live, the 49-year-old Scot took to the iconic Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans to send a powerful message about living with terminal illness.
Sir Chris Hoy was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2023
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Speaking to TNT Sport about his reason for racing, Hoy revealed the profound impact of his diagnosis: "I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer almost two years ago now, and it shocked me, it rocked my world.
"It changed everything in one sentence, you're told that's not curable, but it's treatable.
"So suddenly, you have this death sentence, and it's terrifying, but I'm here to show that life goes on for many people in that situation."
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Sir Chris Hoy has raced at Le Mans before
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The Scottish sporting legend was diagnosed in 2023 after visiting a doctor with shoulder pain.
A routine scan revealed a tumour, with further tests confirming the primary cancer was in his prostate and had spread to his bones.
Despite the devastating prognosis, Hoy maintains an extraordinarily positive outlook: "Hand on heart, I'm pretty positive most of the time and I have genuine happiness," he told the Sunday Times in October.
"This is bigger than the Olympics. It's bigger than anything. This is about appreciating life and finding joy.
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"As unnatural as it feels, this is nature.
"You know, we were all born and we all die, and this is just part of the process. You remind yourself, aren't I lucky that there is medicine I can take that will fend this off for as long as possible."
This wasn't Hoy's first experience at the legendary endurance racing circuit.
In 2016, he competed in the Le Mans Proper with Algarve Pro Racing in the LMP2 category, finishing 17th overall among 60 drivers and 12th in his class.
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Sir Chris Hoy described hearing of his diagnoses as like a 'death sentence'
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Reflecting on the significance of Le Mans, Hoy said: "It's always been the endurance event. If you get the chance as an amateur driver, this is the cherry on top of the icing on top of the cake, this is the big one.
"I still pinch myself that I got to do it, when you watch on TV or come to watch it live, I still can't quite believe I was out there, elbows out with the big boys. It's different to anywhere else I've been to."
Looking ahead, Hoy is preparing to lead the Tour de 4 in September, a charitable cycling event he created to raise £1million for UK cancer charities whilst challenging public perceptions of stage four cancer.
"The bike ride is to try and get as many people together as possible, not just people suffering with cancer but anybody, to show we can keep on living, make the most of every day and live in the present, because that's all any of us have," he explained.
The event will begin and end at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow on September 7, 2025.
It offers four different rides, including a challenging 56-mile Red Ride for experienced cyclists and a Yellow Ride allowing cancer-affected participants to cycle on static bikes in the venue's centre.
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