Team GB secrets: Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton in 'hot pants'

The practice of applying tyre warmers to F1 racing cars and Moto GP bikes ahead of races has been borrowed by the professional cyclists preparing for the Olympics, but rather than fitting the heaters to their bicycle wheels, riders like Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton are strapping them to their thighs.

Dubbed ‘hot pants’ by Team GB, the heated tracksuit bottoms keep the riders’ legs warm in the time between warm-up and race event.

The riders will be hoping the thigh warmers give them an advantage in this week’s races at the Olympic velodrome.