Sir Chris Hoy believes four-time Olympic gold medallist Laura Kenny can still succeed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games despite her broken shoulder.

The 27 year-old revealed earlier this month that she would not undergo surgery on her injury despite it potentially hampering her in what is a crucial year of her career.

But Hoy insists Kenny will see the Track World Championships in Germany, which start tomorrow, as an opportunity to remind everyone she is still at the top of the pile.

Speaking in his BBC column, he said: "Laura Kenny broke her shoulder in January and while she will race in Berlin you can't underestimate how much a crash or an injury like that can affect your confidence and your preparation.

"It will be a big setback, but I have no doubt that she can still physically get herself back to where she needs to be in time for Tokyo. However, she will have really wanted to lay down some big markers in Berlin to prove she is still the rider to beat."

Hoy also stressed the level of competition from within Kenny's own team heading into Tokyo.

"It's been an interesting progression between her and Katie Archibald over the past few years," he added.

"Laura was the queen bee of the women's endurance squad, but Katie has produced some incredible performances - so the big question is who does get that omnium place in Tokyo?

"You've got Elinor Barker in the mix too, an incredibly successful world champion in her own right, so I think Laura will be frustrated. It is just really unfortunate but that is the nature of the sport."

Team GB won a total of 12 medals in cycling at the 2016 Olympics, including six gold.

Two of those gold medals came from the women's endurance team, but Hoy is aware they cannot be looked upon as the members of the squad guaranteed to bring home medals from Tokyo.

He said: "Looking at the past three Olympic cycles, the women's endurance squad have been your bankers for gold medals, but it's getting tougher and other nations are raising their bar.

"But it seems that GB have always got a little bit extra to give, no matter whether it's the Americans, the Kiwis, the Aussies or whoever coming at them.

"They will be the team to beat, and everybody who is in the squad and in the running will be trying to prove they are the ones to be picked for Tokyo."