Rural peace is shattered by outbreak of cycle rage

Police are hunting a rider who beat up another cyclist after the pair collided when they were out for a spin on the picturesque 21-mile orbital route.

The victim, aged 20, suffered a fractured collar bone and other injuries in the assault which happened in Cottam Way on Tuesday June 3. “This was a nasty assault which caused the victim serious injury,” said PC Nicola Jackson.

The incident happened around 6pm when the 20-year-old, from Hoghton, was attempting the greenway which encircles the city. Police say the two riders collided and, in the confrontation which followed, the 20-year-old was sworn at before being put in a headlock by the other man.

He was punched twice in the head, causing him to fall to the ground with his bike. After managing to struggle to his feet the victim tried to ride away. But, as he passed the other man, he was pushed to the ground again, injuring his shoulder as he fell.

The attacker was described as white, around 20-years-old, six feet tall , of stocky build and was clean-shaven with blond hair. He was wearing a dark grey cycle helmet, a “Team Sky” black and blue short-sleeved cycle shirt and black shorts. He was riding a dark grey carbon fibre bike.

The attack was condemned by Peter Ward, co founder of the Guild Wheel, as “deplorable.” He said: “It’s shocking. It has no place anywhere in society and certainly not on the Guild Wheel. These things are very rare and let’s hope the police catch him. You get the odd hothead in anything, but we have no way of filtering them out on a public route like this. 99 per cent of the people who use the Wheel do so in a sensible and friendly manner.”