Cycling world pays last respects to mountain biker star Rab Wardell, 37, who died from cardiac arrest as his double Olympic gold-winning girlfriend Katie Archibald battled to save his life
- Rab Wardell suffered a cardiac arrest while lying next to partner Katie Archibald at their home in Glasgow
- His death was confirmed on August 23 – two days after he had won the Scottish Cross Country Championship
- Mourners gathered at Dunfermline Crematorium today, where a large group of cyclists followed the cortege
- Friends were seen consoling each other outside the crematorium among lycra-clad cyclists paying respects
The cycling world has paid its last respects to Scottish mountain bike champion Rab Wardell, who died from a cardiac arrest as his Olympian partner Katie Archibald desperately battle to save his life.
Mr Wardell, 37, suffered the cardiac arrest while lying next to the Team GB star at their home in Glasgow last month.
His death was confirmed on August 23 – just two days after he had won the Scottish Cross Country Championship at Kirroughtree Forest near Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire. He had also appeared on BBC Scotland’s The Nine the evening of his death to talk about his victory.
Mourners gathered for a funeral at Dunfermline Crematorium this afternoon, where a large group of cyclists gathered to follow the cortege to the service.
Friends were seen consoling each other outside the crematorium, with lycra-clad cyclists interspersed with men and women dressed in black attire.
Tributes to the cycling champion were also written on cards placed among flowers outside the funeral today.
At the time of his tragic death, Ms Archibald, who won gold medals at both the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, emotionally shared how she ‘tried and tried’ to save him and that her heart ‘stopped’ with his.
Olympian Katie Archibald, 28, desperately tried to save her partner Rab Wardell, 37, who died from a cardiac arrest (pictured together)
The funeral procession for Rab Wardell arriving at Dunfermline Crematorium, with a large group of cyclists following the cortege
The coffin of Rab Wardell arriving at Dunfermline Crematorium today covered in flowers and two cards paying poignant tributes
A person holds an order of service outside of the Dunfermline Crematorium ahead of the funeral service of Mr Wardell this afternoon
Mourners gather outside Dunfermline Crematorium as the cortege carrying the flower-covered coffin arrives ahead of the funeral service
Friends were seen consoling each other outside the crematorium, with lycra-clad cyclists interspersed with men and women dressed in black attire
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 prior to his death
Lycra-clad cyclists, pictured with their bikes laid on grass outside the service, followed the cortege as the cycling world paid its respects to Mr Wardell today
Cyclists and mourners lined the road outside Dunfermline Crematorium as the funeral for Mr Wardell took place this afternoon
Flowers and messages left by Mr Wardell’s family among the flowers on top of his coffin today, where the cycling world came together to pay its respects
Mourners were seen hugging and consoling each other as they attended the funeral for Mr Wardell, who died from a cardiac arrest last month
She tweeted: ‘I think you’ve heard that Rab died yesterday morning.
‘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.’
Ms Archibald added: ‘Thank you to those making tributes. I can’t bear to talk about him in the past tense to say anything myself. You mean everything to me, Rab. I love you.’
Her comments came after Scottish Cycling said it was ‘devastated to confirm the news that international mountain biker & former employee, Rab Wardell, has passed away’.
The sporting body added: ‘We have very little information at this stage, but we send our love and support to his family, friends and all those in our community who knew him.
‘We ask that you respect Rab’s family’s privacy at this incredibly sad time.’
Ms Archibald holds 17 gold medals in European elite track championships which is an all-time record for that championships. She also holds the women’s British 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 suffering a cardiac arrest while lying in bed with his partner, Olympic cyclist Katie Archibald
The funeral procession for Rab Wardell arriving at Dunfermline Crematorium ahead of the funeral service this afternoon
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 the sport featured a strong, witty personality who’d help anyone.’
In 2020 Mr Wardell, who lived in Glasgow, set the fastest known time for mountain biking the West Highland Way, completing it in nine hours, 14 minutes and 32 seconds.
He represented Scotland in the Commonwealth Games and competed in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup series.
His win at Kirroughtree Forest two days prior to his death was described as a ‘show of incredible resilience’ by British Cycling 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.
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