The mountain bike rider Rab Wardell has died on the age of 37, simply days after competing at, and profitable, the Scottish MTB XC Championships.
Scottish Biking confirmed on Tuesday night that Wardell had died in his sleep. Wardell had appeared on BBC Scotland’s The 9 programme on Monday night to speak about his victory on Sunday.
“We’re devastated to verify the information that worldwide mountain biker and former worker, Rab Wardell, has handed away in the present day,” an announcement from Scottish Biking stated.
“We now have little or no data at this stage, however we ship our love and assist to his household, pals and all these in our group who knew him. We ask that you simply respect Rab’s household’s privateness at this extremely unhappy time.”
Wardell’s companion, the observe bicycle owner Katie Archibald, tweeted on Wednesday that he had suffered a “cardiac arrest” on Tuesday morning.
“I believe you’ve heard that Rab died yesterday morning,” wrote Archibald, “I nonetheless don’t perceive what’s occurred; if that is actual; why he’d be taken now – so wholesome and completely happy.
“He went into cardiac arrest whereas we have been mendacity in mattress. I attempted and tried, and the paramedics arrived inside minutes, however his coronary heart stopped and so they couldn’t convey him again.”
Wardell received the elite males’s title at Kirroughtree Forest in Dumfries & Galloway on Sunday, overcoming a number of punctures to win on the ultimate lap. His victory was described as a “present of unimaginable resilience” by British Biking.
Sunday’s race organisers, the Scottish Cross Nation Affiliation, paid their very own tribute to Wardell on Fb.
“He will probably be really missed by our group and his dedication, expertise and friendship will reside on in all our hearts and reminiscences,” an announcement stated. “I’m positive extra eloquent phrases will probably be written by many however RIP Rab. Our champion, our inspiration, our good friend.”
The six-time Olympic gold medallist, Sir Chris Hoy, tweeted: “Can’t imagine this. Totally heartbreaking. Relaxation in peace Rab.”
Wardell, who lived with Archibald in Glasgow, had been racing mountain bikes since he was an adolescent, however solely turned skilled earlier this 12 months.
