Scottish Cycling has confirmed 2022 Mountain Bike National Champion Rab Wardell, 37, died unexpectedly on Monday, just over 24 hours after winning the title.

Wardell’s partner, Olympic cycling track champion Katie Archibald, posted an emotional note on Twitter indicating that Wardell went into cardiac arrest while the two we were lying in bed.

“I tried and tried, and the paramedics arrived within minutes, but his heart stopped and they couldn’t bring him back,” Archibald wrote.

A mountain bike racer since his teenage years, Wardell won the men’s Cross Country national title at Kirroughtree Forest in Dumfries & Galloway on Sunday 21 August, dramatically overcoming three punctures and a minute deficit on the final lap to win.

Afterwards, Wardell told British Cycling:

“I’m stoked – I’m just really happy. It felt like quite a lot of pressure coming into it, and I knew there was a chance to win…”

Photos: Rab Wardell

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