Hundreds pay tribute to cyclist

Family and friends have gathered for the funeral of cycling champion Jason MacIntyre, who died after a collision with a van while on a training ride.

More than 800 people packed Duncansburgh Parish Church in Fort William and its adjoining hall to pay their last respects to Mr MacIntyre.

Among the mourners were his widow Caroline and their eight-year-old twin daughters Morgan and Chloe.

Cycling legend Graeme Obree also attended the funeral.

Mr MacIntyre, who was 34, broke Obree's 10-mile time trial record last year.

He died while training near his home in Fort William last week.

We all search for a hero. To us in cycling, well, he was a hero. He was a champion Bob Taylor

In a moving letter read out to the congregation, his wife said: "Maybe when we meet again you might actually get me on a bike."

The note, read by the Reverend Donald MacQuarrie, also recalled how "ridiculous" Mr MacIntyre looked in lycra when he first met his future wife.

But, as time went on, she said her husband "looked pretty damn good" in the material, particularly with his British champion colours on.

During the 45-minute service, Jason's Glasgow-based cycling friend Bob Taylor paid tribute to Mr MacIntyre, saying: "We all search for a hero. To us in cycling, well, he was a hero. He was a champion."

Mr MacIntyre was gearing up to challenge for the Scottish and British championships later this year, which he hoped would lead to selection into the Olympic squad in Beijing.

Memorial fund

A day before his death, the triple British and Scottish champion had learned he had won funding to train for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Mr Taylor ended his speech by saying: "Fort William has lost a champion, Scottish cycling has lost a champion, and British cycling has lost a champion - and we have all lost a hero."

A memorial fund set up in Mr MacIntyre's honour has already raised thousands of pounds.

Donations have come from across the world for the fund, which aims to aid in the care of his daughter Morgan, who has a serious kidney condition. He was her full-time carer.

Mr MacIntyre represented Scotland in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

He twice won the British 25-mile Time Trial and was the first Scot to win the British Circuit race Time Trial Championship.