LONDON, Jan 16: Jason MacIntyre, three times a British time-trial champion and 13 times Scottish champion, was killed while on a training ride in northern Scotland, police and cycling authorities said Wednesday.

MacIntyre, 34, was hit by a van while riding near his home in Fort William, in the Scottish Highlands, on Tuesday. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

“We have lost one of our finest cyclists,” said Jock Shaw, president of Scottish Cycling. “His achievements over the last few years proved that he was still improving and we were looking forward to him progressing further.”

MacIntyre won the British 25-mile time-trial event in 2006 and 2007 and the circuit event in 2006. He represented Scotland in the 2002 Commonwealth Games and in 2007 broke Graeme Obree’s 10-mile time trial Scottish record.

Scottish Cycling said that it believed MacIntyre would “almost certainly” have earned selection to the British team had he not chosen to train alone and live in remote northern Scotland.

A police investigation has been opened. MacIntyre leaves a wife, Caroline, and eight-year-old twin daughters.—AP