Tony Doyle dead aged 64: Tributes pour in after Britain’s former world track cycling champion loses fight with cancer
TRIBUTES are pouring in for Britain’s two-time world cycling champion Tony Doyle MBE after he died of pancreatic cancer aged 64.
The Middlesex-born legend won individual pursuit world titles in 1980 and 1986, plus four European golds and 23 six-day races.
Doyle suffered brain trauma in a life-threatening crash in 1989 but battled back to competitive racing at the highest level.
After finally retiring in 1995, Doyle later became British Cycling president and was the Tour of Britain’s founding director.
He died on Sunday, four weeks after being diagnosed with cancer diagnosis.
Doyle’s numerous medal-winning achievements include a silver and two bronzes at the Commonwealth Games.
Former world pursuit gold and bronze winner Colin Sturgess, from Wakefield, posted: “Rest in peace – Vale Tony Doyle. Kinda spun out by his passing; class bike rider. A rival, but also somewhat of a hero to a younger me.”
Another fan wrote: “For me it was Tony Doyle who started the trend of great British men in the pursuit… RIP TD.”
Other cycling followers expressed their shock, calling pancreatic cancer an “evil disease”.
One wrote of Doyle’s passing, “That’s terrible” and another added: “So sad”.
And a cycling podcaster shared his own touchingl memory of one of the sport’s most popular figures.
Chris Sidwells wrote: “Very sad to hear Tony Doyle has died. A great champion, an extremely kind man who helped me keep things going when my wife Kath was ill, and after her death.
“He never left me more than a few days without a reassuring supportive phone call, and helped me get back on my feet again.”