Broken bike (CC licensed image by garryknight, www.flickr.com)
Former World Masters Points Race champion Andy Laing is flighting for his life after suffering head injuries when he was hit by a car last week.
Andy, one of Scotland’s leading cyclists, has won more than 70 road and track titles over the course of his career.
The 59-year-old, who is now Musselburgh Road Cycling Club’s president, was hit by a black Volkswagen Polo in Musselburgh, east of Edinburgh, a week ago yesterday - it’s thought on his way home from a club meeting.
The female driver, aged 19, was uninjured following the collision in the High Street at around 9.30pm on September 13.
Witnesses say she turned right into Andy while turning into Dalrymple Lane.
Andy was originally thought to have suffered a broken collarbone and ribs, but his injuries appear to now be more serious. He is being treated at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where doctors say he is stable, but still critical.
Club secretary Douglas Kirkham told The Scotsman how devastated club members were on hearing the news.
He said: “All members, past and present, of the MRCC wish Andy a speedy and full recovery and our thoughts are, of course, with Andy and his family.
“His main passion has always been track racing and he has amassed over 70 honours at Scottish and British level.
“In 2001, he was the World Masters Points Race champion when the event was held at Manchester Velodrome.
“Andy still races competitively in the Meadowbank National track league and at British Masters Championships and other track competitions across Britain.
“He is still active in the administrative side of cycle sport in Scotland and widely respected for his work in cycling committees at club, district and national level.”
Pc Murray Haldane, of Police Scotland, made an appeal for witnesses, saying: “An investigation is under way in order to establish the circumstances and we are appealing to any witnesses who may have seen the collision.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland 101.
Born in Scotland, Simon moved to London aged seven and now lives in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds with his miniature schnauzer, Elodie. He fell in love with cycling one Saturday morning in 1994 while living in Italy when Milan-San Remo went past his front door. A daily cycle commuter in London back before riding to work started to boom, he's been news editor at road.cc since 2009. Handily for work, he speaks French and Italian. He doesn't get to ride his Colnago as often as he'd like, and freely admits he's much more adept at cooking than fettling with bikes.