SIR Chris Hoy’s legendary thighs are even more massive after he was attacked by a horsefly.
The six-time Olympic champion was bitten whilst cycling and revealed the huge swelling on his leg in a photo posted on Twitter this afternoon.
Hoy had been cycling with fellow British cycling star Jason Kenny in the morning only to discover the large bite to his thigh afterwards.
Writing on Twitter, Hoy said: “Bitten by a horse-fly on the outside of my thigh. Rapidly turning into Robert Forstemann…”
In the post, Hoy refers to the swelling on his leg by referencing German cyclist Robert Forstemann, who’s nickname is ‘thighs’ due to his large leg muscles.
The photo shows Hoy’s leg with a massive red mark on his inner thigh and swelling around the area.
Just two hours earlier, Hoy had shared a happier photo of himself and Jason Kenny on their bikes as they cycled through the countryside with the caption: “Hit the hills with @JasonKenny107 this morning, the smiles would suggest we’re clearly not going hard enough.”
Some of Hoy’s 725,000 Twitter followers have been quick to react to his grisly post.
James Munro wrote: “They’re a nightmare. I’ve been pursued by them in Germany and France. The German ones are huge.”
Phil Hutchins commented: “Had that happen to the top of my ankles last year – couldn’t wear shoes properly and driving was, well, interesting.”
Whilst Andy Niven joked: “Don’t know what’s worse, the reaction to the bug bite, or the fact that four years after retirement you still shave your legs.”
Horseflies vary in length from around ½ to 1 ¼ inches. The females feed on blood and have blade-like mouthparts which slash tissue, causing blood to spill which they then feed on.
They are often large and agile in flight and prefer to fly in sunlight, avoiding dark and shady areas.
They are inactive at night and found all around the world apart from some islands and polar regions.