The cycling club of a man who died three weeks after crashing during the RideLondon event has named a series of races in his honour.
Richard Kell, 71, was airlifted to hospital after colliding with a tree outside Pyrford in Woking during the annual RideLondon-Surrey 100 on July 31.
He spent three weeks in an induced coma but died on August 23.
Mr Kell, who lived in Oxfordshire, was a member of the Outdoor Traders Cycling Club, in Abingdon, and friends at the club have renamed its autumn series of races in his memory.
He was fundraising for the British Red Cross at the event, which he attended with his daughter Sarah, 41.
She was on the starting line for the shorter 46-mile ride when told of his crash. His wife of 49 years, Hilary, 70, said: “Richard was a brilliant man. He was a very active, happy-go-lucky person. He didn’t act like he was 71, he was physically fit.
“He had been cycling with the Outdoor Traders Cycling Club two or three times a week. He did RideLondon last year and thoroughly enjoyed it and was looking forward to doing it again this year.”
She added: “For three weeks we hoped he would improve but it was not to be.”
Mr Kell worked as a welder for 20 years and as Abingdon Town Council’s cemetery superintendent for 14 years.
He was one of two cyclists to die after this year’s event. Cancer survivor Robin Chard, 48, suffered a cardiac arrest.
Mr Kell’s fundraising page for British Red Cross is at bit.ly/2cDoQWC
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