A Sad Day for Cycling

This Article is reprinted from Velonews.com the full article can be viewed at www.velonews.com...

Scottish time trialist Jason MacIntyre has died after a collision with a van while training in Fort William, according to British press reports. The 34-year-old Scot, a multiple British and Scottish time-trial champion who had hoped to make the British Olympic team, died while being airlifted to a hospital. His death came a day after he had been given funding to train for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Police said prosecutors will decide if charges should be brought against a 35-year-old man.

In a statement, MacIntyre's family said he was a "wonderful son, husband, brother and father. His achievements in the world of cycling were nothing short of wonderful too."

Last year, Macintyre broke cycling legend Graeme Obree's 10-mile time trial Scottish record. Obree told the BBC he had great respect for Macintyre and was shocked by his death. The cyclist was born in Lochgilphead but had lived in Fort William since the age of 10. Despite not starting cycling until he was 18, he progressed in the sport, winning the Tour of the North in Ireland at the age of 23. In 2002, he was selected to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. MacIntyre won the British 25-mile time trial twice and was the first Scot to win the British Circuit race time trial championship. He took two years away from racing to help his wife, Caroline, following the premature birth of their daughters, now 8. Tributes have been pouring in following his death. Scottish Olympic and world cycling medalist Craig MacLean told the BBC: "Jason was a really nice guy, his death is a sad loss to the world of cycling. It's very tragic. I think Jason was being considered for the Olympic squad in Beijing later this year and that would have been the pinnacle of his career."

Jackie Davidson, director of Scottish Cycling, the sport's governing body, said: "We are very sad for Caroline and the two girls and our thoughts are with them. Jason was a rider with so much talent and potential. Everyone is shocked to hear the news."

BBC Radio Scotland sports presenter John Beattie, who recently spoke to MacIntyre on his program, said the death illustrated the risks facing cyclists on Scotland's roads. He said: "Here was a young bloke out training and he got killed. It just shows to everyone sitting in cars how dangerous it can be to be a cyclist."

"He was a road racer, he broke time trials, and that kind of cyclist needs to train on the roads but with more and more cars on the roads it is more dangerous."

This is a sad day for cycling. As is every day that someone dies on their bike, whether it be on a training ride, a commute to work or school, or just a run down the street to get groceries.