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Not many people can say they have beaten Britain’s most decorated Olympian in a bike race – but Cardiff’s Debbie Wharton can.

For the 40 year old from Whitchurch once powered past the cycling legend in a grand prix meet before Sir Chris Hoy hit the big time.

Yesterday, Sir Chris announced his decision to race his bike for the last time as he retired with immediate effect from competitive cycling.

After a glittering career spanning nearly 15 years, the 37 year old – whose medal haul includes six Olympic titles, 11 world titles and two Commonwealth crowns – said he simply did not have the pace any more to continue at the highest level.

“It’s a decision that I didn’t take lightly and I thought about it very hard,” he said.

“In sport at the highest level you are dealing in the smallest margins and you can tell when you are good but not good enough.”

Following his announcement figures from the world of sport and politics hailed his “remarkable” career.

But it was not just celebrities and personalities who praised the Scotsman, for tributes also came from Cardiff’s very own breeding ground of cycling champions, the Maindy Flyers Club – where Sir Chris made several guest coaching appearances in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

While another person to praise the cycling great was Debbie Wharton, who fondly recalled how she once beat a young Sir Chris across the finish line in his own backyard of Edinburgh.

Debbie, who as a youngster travelled the UK to take part in competitive meets, said she lined up against Sir Chris when she was 14 years old and he about 11 or 12.

“It’s just something I’ve always looked back on since and thought, ‘Ha, I beat you once’,” she said.

“He was only young at the time and was just starting off which I guess is why, but still, it’s a good story and I tell it quite a bit.”

She added: “Of course at the time I didn’t realise what he would go on to achieve as we were just what we call juveniles at the time.”

Meanwhile Alan Davis, Maindy Flyers’ head coach, told of his pride at the club’s role in Sir Chris’ development.

He said the 2008 BBC Sport’s Personality of the Year winner would often come down to the cycling track at Cardiff’s Maindy leisure centre along with the likes of fellow cyclists Craig MacLean and Rob Hayles to coach the children.

Among those he inspired, Alan said, were a young Geraint Thomas and Nicole Cooke.

He added: “He’s wonderful, he’s always got time to stop and he’s never by any means standoffish and is extremely down to earth.

“He’s very sensible and relates to the kids really well.”