The Olympian’s cancer was discovered last year after a routine scan for shoulder pain – he thought he had injured himself while lifting weights at the gym – revealed a tumour.

The athlete was with his wife Sarra when he was given his terminal diagnosis. The couple have two children, Callum and Chloe, who were aged nine and six at the time.

Just before Sir Chris’s tumour was discovered, Sarra had undergone scans that would later show she had multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown said that courage had “defined” Sir Chris’s career and “now characterises how Chris and Sarra both face their health diagnoses and embrace life”.

Scotland’s first minister John Swinney called Sir Chris “a person of incredible courage”, sending him good wishes in an X post., external

Edinburgh-born Sir Chris, who was first inspired to take up cycling by the famous BMX scenes in the film E.T., had won six Olympic, 11 world and 43 World Cup titles by the time he retired.

The cyclist first won gold at the Athens Olympics in 2004, and went on to secure three more gold medals four years later in 2008 Beijing. He won two further golds in London 2012.

Such was his prestige that he was chosen to be the flag bearer for Team GB at the closing ceremony of the 2008 Olympics and then again at the opening ceremony for the London Olympics four years later.

A stadium built in Glasgow for the 2014 Commonwealth Games was named in his honour.

Talking to Stephen Nolan on BBC Radio 5 Live, Simon Richardson, editor of Cycling Weekly magazine, called Sir Chris “the epitome of the Olympic champion”.

Michael Hutchinson, a journalist and former professional cyclist, echoed that, calling the Olympic champion a “talisman” in an interview on 5 Live Breakfast.

He added it was “inspiring” that Sir Chris had not showed “an ounce of self-pity” in announcing his diagnosis.

Since retiring, Sir Chris has written several books for children alongside his contribution to BBC cycling coverage.

He has also been writing a memoir for the last year, which is due to be published next month.

This week he has been appearing on BBC Two, co-presenting the coverage of the World Track Championships with Jill Douglas in Denmark.