Funeral for champion cyclist Rab Wardell to take place in Dunfermline

The funeral of mountain biker Rab Wardell, who died suddenly after winning the Scottish Championship, is to take place on Wednesday.

The 37-year-old died on Tuesday, August 23, after he won the elite men’s title at the Scottish MTB XC Championships in Dumfries and Galloway two days before.

Mr Wardell had appeared on BBC Scotland’s The Nine programme on the evening of Monday, August 22.

Close friends and family are expected to attend the private service at Dunfermline Crematorium at 1.15pm on Wednesday.

Police said cyclists can gather from 12.30pm to follow the cortege, according to Scottish Cycling.

Following the shock death, tributes flooded in for the rider, who set a record time on the 96-mile route from Milngavie to Fort William in 2020.

His partner, the Olympic champion Katie Archibald, desperately tried to save his life after he went into a suspected cardiac arrest.

Archibald said she “can’t describe the pain” in an emotional statement, posted on Twitter.

She said: “I still don’t understand what’s happened; if this is real; why he’d be taken now – so healthy and happy.

“He went into cardiac arrest while we were lying 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 with it. I love him so much and need him here with me. I need him here so badly, but he’s gone. I can’t describe this pain.”