British man dies in cycle crash during Ironman contest

A British man has been killed after crashing into a wall in an extreme triathlon event in France.

The 30-year-old died cycling down a hill during an Ironman competition near Nice.

He suffered massive head injuries and a cardiac arrest after he hit the wall on a tight bend during a high-speed descent yesterday.

The man, who has not been named but is believed to be from the London area, was said to be coping well with the course, involving a 2.64-mile swim, a 111-mile bicycle ride and a full marathon.

But he went off the road during the second leg at Tourrettes-sur-Loup, a medieval village. A spokesman for the emergency services in the area said: “We were unable to revive him at the scene, and following an emergency airlift by helicopter he died en route to hospital at Nice airport.”

Ironman France is the biggest annual triathlon on the French Riviera, and attracts competitors from all over the world.

Competition organiser Yves Cordier said he was shocked by the tragedy, and that it was the first time a contestant had died during an Ironman event in France. Ironman Europe is working with the authorities to investigate the accident.

Race winner Frederik van Lierde led a minute’s silence for the victim at the end of the race.