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.

Tony Doyle won the second of his two individual pursuit world titles in 1986Rex

GettyLegend Doyle was at the top of British cycling for two decades[/caption]

Doyle was awarded an MBE in 1989 and after retiring as a rider took on key roles with British cycling and the Tour of BritainRex

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 three bronzes at the Commonwealth Games.

Former pro cyclist Col Sturgess 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.”

Doyle, seen racing in the Kellogg’s City Centre night race, Nottingham, emerged as one of Britain’s biggest names in cyclingRex