One of Britian’s top cycling stars from the 1960’s was run over and killed while doing what he loved, competing in time trial races, at the amateur Epsom Cycling Club race Sunday morning 25 August in England.

John Froud, 81, was about halfway through his 25 mile individual time trial on the Bentley course – starting and finishing near Farnham in Surrey – when a Ford Transit van crashed into him from behind on a crystal clear day just before 09:00.

Police and emergency services were immediately called to the scene of crash, but were unable to revive and save the life of Froud. Police arrested the van driver, a 21-year-old man, on suspicion of multiple offenses, including: causing death while driving due to drugs, homicide by negligent driving, driving a vehicle while incapacitated by drugs and driving a motor vehicle with drugs in excess of the established limit.

Froud was a lifelong cyclist and legendary time trial competitor. Along with his brother Brian he started racing with Festival Road Club in the 1950s and went on to build an impressive palmarès in the 1960’s, including winning the Division Road Race Championship and representing Great Britain at the famous Peace Race in Eastern Europe.

John Froud (second from left) at 1964 Peace Race

He continued racing in his later years, riding in an impressive 242 time trial events, and at 81 years-old could still average 21.674mph for 10 miles, which would have earned him a gold medal and UCI World Championship rainbow jersey at the 2022 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.

Froud is the second amateur to be hit and killed during a British time trial event in the last two months. Cheryl Tye was killed during the Cycling Club Breckland’s 50-Mile Time Trial Championship on 26 June.

Photos: Carpenterbikes.com, Charlotteville CC, TTLegends.org