Glasgow mountain biker Rab Wardell 'dies in his sleep' after major win
‘Humble and cheerful’ ex-Commonwealth Games mountain biker dies in his sleep aged just 37 – two days after becoming Scottish champion
- Rab Wardell, 37, won a major race on Sunday despite three punctures on the way
- In 2020, Mr Wardle set the fastest recorded time across the West Highland Way
- He has also mountain biked for Scotland in the Commonwealth Games
A Scottish mountain bike champion has died aged just 37 –two days after winning a major championship.
Rab Wardell won the men’s title at the Scottish MTB XC Championships at the weekend.
Mr Wardell, who was the partner of Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Katie Archibald, had been riding bikes from a young age but did not take up cycling or mountain biking as a sport until he was 15.
Champion Scottish mountain biker Rab Wardell, pictured, has died aged 37, it has been announced
Mr Wardle, pictured here in 2014 won a gold medal at a race in Scotland on Sunday
The talented rider had represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games
Wardle, pictured, also completed the fastest recorded crossing of the West Highland highway on a mountain bike
His win at Kirroughtree Forest near Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire, on Sunday was described as a ‘show of incredible resilience’ by British Cycling after Mr Wardell managed to catch the early race leaders to take the win. During the race he recovered from three punctures to take the gold medal.
Last night the Scottish Cross Country Association (SXC), which runs the mountain bike race series, said it was ‘devastated’ to announce that Mr Wardell had died overnight in his sleep.
A statement from SXC said: ‘We are devastated to relay to you the tragic news that our friend, our Champion Rab Wardell, has died overnight. He will be truly missed by our community and his determination, talent and friendship will live on in all our hearts and memories. RIP Rab. Our Champion, Our Inspiration, Our Friend.’
In 2020 Mr Wardell, who lived in Glasgow, set the fastest known time for mountain biking the West Highland Way, completing it in nine hours, 14 minutes and 32 seconds.
He represented Scotland in the Commonwealth Games and competed in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup series. On Monday night he appeared on BBC Scotland show The Nine to talk about his championship win.
Mr Wardell said: ‘It was a bit of a disaster, but I just have to keep on trucking and keep racing. I guess I still felt confident that I’d be able to catch the leaders and win so I just gave it my best shot.’
In a statement, Scottish Cycling said: ‘We are devastated to confirm that international mountain biker and former employee, Rab Wardell, has passed away today. We send our love and support to his family, friends and all those in our community who knew him’
Last night tributes poured in for the cyclist, who was described as being both ‘humble and cheerful’.
Mountain biking journalist Chipps Chippendale said: ‘So sorry to have just heard the news about Rab Wardell’s death.
‘He’d just won the Scottish Cross Country Championships on the back of an impressive comeback to racing and apparently passed away in his sleep.
‘Rab was a true all-rounder, racing XC, cross and Enduro with equal flair, all while being humble and cheerful – and very, very fast.
‘Just as he had it all to look forward to, with us along for the ride, he was taken away. A true champ has left us.’
One person said on social media: ‘Someone who has achieved so much and inspired so many.’
In a statement, Scottish Cycling said: ‘We are devastated to confirm that international mountain biker and former employee, Rab Wardell, has passed away today.
‘We send our love and support to his family, friends and all those in our community who knew him.’
A statement from British Cycling said: ‘Rab was a brilliant rider, friend and ambassador for our sport. Our thoughts are with his family and many friends.’
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