Former ITV cycling presenter in court on charge of riding bike while drunk

The former presenter of a cycling programme on ITV4 has appeared in court on charges of being drunk in charge of a bicycle and failing to stop when asked to do so by a police officer.

Richard Cunynghame, aged 36 and a past host of The Cycle Show which first aired in 2012, pleaded not guilty to the charges at Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court yesterday, reports the Daily Mail.

It is alleged that he had been riding under the influence of alcohol in Sloane Square, Chelsea and did not stop when police requested him to do so.

But Philip Vollons, speaking in his defence, insisted that his client was not intoxicated.

He said: “The issues are he certainly was not drunk. The certain issue is whether he was in control of the bike, and he was in control of the bike.

“Indeed he wasn't over any limit in any event. We say the officers didn't ask him to stop at all until they brought him to a physical standstill by making contact with his bike with a police vehicle.

“It may well be they did ask him to stop, but it was not heard.”

British national downhill champion in 2012 in the masters 30-34 age group, besides his work on The Cycle Show Cunynghame has worked as a director for the likes of Dirt TV and Red Bull, for whom he made the long-running online video series, The Atherton Project.

District Judge Karim Ezzat told him: “You have pleaded not guilty in relation to these two offences and your trial will take place on July 6 at City of London Magistrates court.

“I release you on bail to return to court on that date.”

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