Scots cycling champion killed while out training

MacIntyre was hit by a north-bound Highland Council Transit van yesterday while cycling south on the A82 near Spean Bridge, nine miles north of his Fort William home.

James McCallum from Scottish Cycling, tribute, he was good friends with James McIntyre through years of competing at top level.

He was taken to Belford Hospital in Fort William, where he died, Northern Constabulary said in a statement.

The cyclist had battled immense personal and professional obstacles during his short career, including taking two years out of the sport to care for one of his twin daughters, Morgan, who suffered serious kidney problems.

But after achieving an extraordinary run of medal success over the past two years, he was said by colleagues to be at the peak of his sport and capable of bringing home further trophies in international events.

Last summer he broke the long-standing 10-mile time-trial record held by former world record-holder Graeme Obree, with whom he had many close contests over the years. He covered the distance in 18 minutes 47 seconds.

While Obree won belated recognition with the release of the movie The Flying Scotsman last year, which chronicled his unconventional and often tortuous rise to the peak of his sport, many felt MacIntyre's achievements were yet to be fully appreciated.

Bryan Smith, a former Scotland manager and Olympic rider, said of MacIntyre: "He was the best road cyclist in Scotland and as good as anyone in Britain. He was in the prime of his career."

MacIntyre was told by e-mail on Monday he had been given special funding by the Braveheart Cycling Fund to train for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Dehli with the aim of bringing home some silverware, Smith said.

"Jason was good when he was young, but achieved a serious breakthrough in later life - a bit like Obree. He was certainly on a par with David Millar (who beat multiple Tour de France-winner Lance Armstrong in a time trial) in last year's time trial until he had a puncture."

Scottish World and Commonwealth cycling champion Craig MacLean added: "It's 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."

A printer by trade, MacIntyre competed in his first race at the age of 18, and won his first international race five years later when he was victorious at the Tour of the North in Ireland. In 2006, he became the first Scot to lift the national time-trial title.

His dedication to his family was demonstrated by his decision to temporarily retire from cycling to care for his eight-year-old daughter, Morgan, born prematurely and put on life support in 2003 after having problems during an operation on her kidneys. She was later given a kidney transplant by MacIntyre's father, David.

Last night, Gregor Russell, owner of the Velo Ecosse team, for whom MacIntyre raced most of his career, paid tribute to the rider.

"He was a tremendous athlete, who was meticulous in his preparation and training," he said.

MacIntyre joined another Scottish team, Edge Racing, last season, and went on to enjoy further success, winning four more Scottish titles.

Jackie Davidson, director of operations at Scottish Cycling, 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."

Caroline, his wife, said last night she was too upset to talk about her husband's death.

MacIntyre was born in Lochgilphead but lived in Fort William since the age of 10.

Northern Constabulary's Road Policing Section is carrying out a full road collision investigation and a report will be submitted to the procurator-fiscal.