The cycling world has paid its final respects to Scottish mountain bike champion Rab Wardell, who died of cardiac arrest as his Olympic partner Katie Archibald fought desperately to save his life.
Mr Wardell, 37, suffered a cardiac arrest while sitting next to the… Team GB star in their house in Glasgow last month.
His death was confirmed on August 23 – just two days after he won the Scottish Cross Country Championship at Kirroughtree Forest near Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire. He had also appeared on BBC Scotland’s The Nine on the night of his death to talk about his victory.
Mourners gathered for a funeral this afternoon at Dunfermline Crematorium, where a large group of cyclists gathered to follow the procession to the service.
Outside the crematorium, friends were seen comforting each other, with cyclists dressed in Lycra alternating with men and women dressed in black.
Tribute to the cycling champion was also written today on cards placed among flowers outside the funeral today.
At the time of his tragic death, Ms. Archibald, who won gold medals in both the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, emotionally shared how she “tried and tried” to save him and her heart “stopped” with his.
Olympian Katie Archibald, 28, desperately tried to save her partner Rab Wardell, 37, who died of cardiac arrest (pictured together)
The funeral procession for Rab Wardell arriving at Dunfermline Crematorium, with a large group of cyclists following the procession
Rab Wardell’s coffin arriving at Dunfermline Crematorium today, covered in flowers and two cards paying a poignant tribute
A person holds a warrant outside the Dunfermline Crematorium ahead of Mr Wardell’s funeral service this afternoon
Mourners gather outside Dunfermline Crematorium as the procession with the flower-covered coffin arrives for the funeral service
Friends were seen comforting each other outside the crematorium, with lycra-clad cyclists interspersed with men and women dressed in black
A large number of people gathered at the crematorium today to pay their respects to the Scottish cycling champion, who won a major tournament just two days before his death.
Lycra-clad cyclists, pictured with their bikes on the grass outside the service, followed the procession as the cycling world paid its respects to Mr Wardell today
Cyclists and mourners lined the road outside the Dunfermline Crematorium when Mr Wardell’s funeral took place this afternoon
Flowers and messages left by Mr Wardell’s family among the flowers atop his coffin today, where the cycling world gathered to pay its respects
Mourners were seen hugging and comforting each other as they attended the funeral of Mr Wardell, who died of cardiac arrest last month
She tweeted, “I think you heard that Rab passed away yesterday morning.
‘I still don’t understand what happened; if this is real; why he should be taken now – so healthy and happy.
“He went into cardiac arrest while we were in bed. I tried and tried, and the paramedics arrived within minutes, but his heart stopped and they couldn’t bring him back.
“Mine stopped working. I love him so much and need him here with me. I need him so much here, but he’s gone. I cannot describe this pain.’
Ms Archibald added: ‘Thank you to those who pay tribute. I can’t bear to talk about him in the past tense just to say something myself. You mean everything to me, Rab. I love you.’
Her comments came after Scottish Cycling said it was “stunned to confirm the news that international mountain biker and former employee, Rab Wardell, has passed away”.
The sports organization added: “We have very little information at this stage, but we are sending our love and support to his family, friends and everyone in our community who knew him.
“We ask that you respect the privacy of Rab’s family at this incredibly sad time.”
Ms. Archibald has 17 gold medals in the European elite track championships, an all-time record for the competition. She also holds the UK women’s national record for the individual pursuit.
Champion Scottish mountain biker Rab Wardell, pictured, died aged 37, just two days after winning a race at Kirroughtree Forest near Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire
The Scottish cycling champion died after cardiac arrest while in bed with his partner, Olympic cyclist Katie Archibald
The funeral procession for Rab Wardell arriving at Dunfermline Crematorium this afternoon prior to the funeral service
Her brother, John, is also an elite cyclist and they both won medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games representing Scotland. Katie won gold in the women’s individual pursuit and John silver in the men’s.
Fellow gold medal cyclist Callum Skinner, said: ‘Sorry to hear of the passing of another great Scottish cyclist. Some of my earliest memories in sports had a strong, witty personality that would help anyone.”
In 2020, Mr Wardell, who lived in Glasgow, set the fastest known time for mountain biking on the West Highland Way, completing it in nine hours, 14 minutes and 32 seconds.
He represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games and competed in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup series.
His win at Kirroughtree Forest two days before his death was described by British Cycling as a ‘show of incredible resilience’ after Mr Wardell managed to catch the early race leaders to take the win.
During the race, he recovered from three punctures to take the gold medal.