Mike Hall: British ultra-distance cyclist killed during race in Australia

One of Britain’s most prolific ultra-distance cyclists has died after being hit by a car while competing in a coast-to-coast race in Australia, days after complaining of vehicles passing too close to him.

Mike Hall’s death on the outskirts of Canberra in the final stages of the 3,300-mile (5,300km) race has thrown the world of ultra-distance cycling into shock. After announcing Hall’s death, the organisers of the inaugural Indian Pacific Wheel Race cancelled the event hours before it was due to finish at Sydney opera house.

On Sunday, Sydney will host a tribute ride to Hall, who won the World Cycle Race in 2012.

Hall, 35, who raised thousands of pounds for charities including Newborns Vietnam, died at the scene after a collision with a car on Monaro highway at about 6.20am local time on Friday. At the time, he was in second place in the unsupported race behind his friend Kristof Allegaert from Belgium.

Allegaert is a three-time winner of the Transcontinental cycling race across Europe, which Hall organised.

The driver of the car involved in the incident is assisting police with their inquiries. Crash investigators are piecing together the circumstances surrounding the collision and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

Five days ago, Hall, who was from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, but lived in Monmouthshire, south Wales, had warned fellow competitors to be wary of close scrapes with cars in Allansford, a town in Victoria 150 miles west of Melbourne.

Race organisers said in a statement: “Mike revelled in the spirit and adventure of ultra-endurance cycling events. Mike’s efforts in both raising money and the spirits of others were tremendous and he leaves an incredible legacy.”

His friend and fellow endurance racer James Hayden has set up a JustGiving page to support Hall’s mother, Patricia, and his partner, Anna. Four hours after being launched, it had raised more than £20,000.

Hayden told the Guardian: “It is a devastating loss, but Mike’s legacy will live on.

“The reason that the JustGiving page has had such a phenomenal response is that Mike was the greatest endurance racer that lived. He was the best. But he was also such a positive figure within the community of ultra-endurance racing. He set up his own race, the Transcontinental, to put back into the racing community. He was a shining light.”

Hayden said Hall’s warning to fellow riders about closely passing cars was indicative of his character. “That’s who Mike was; he was a good person, he was always looking out for everyone,” he said.

Juliana Buhring, one of the 70 riders competing in the race, paid a tearful video tribute to Hall, which she posted on Facebook. “He was one of the greatest ultra-cyclists in the world. And he was a friend, mentor and kindred spirt. I learned everything I know about cycling and racing from Mike. He was truly a unique soul,” she said.

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The organisers of the race, which started on 18 March in Freemantle, Western Australia, said they would cooperate fully with official investigations and “intend to undertake a detailed investigation of our own”.

The race was organised by Australia’s 2015 Trans Am race winner Jesse Carlsson and was being closely followed by fans across the world as the leaders approached Sydney.

Clover Moore, the lord mayor of Sydney, expressed her condolences on Twitter.