Officials have confirmed that Herbalife-Leisure Lakes rider Junior Heffernan died following a collision with a car during the Severn Bridge Road Race in Gloucestershire on Sunday.

The race was abandoned shortly after the incident on the third of ten laps, with riders returning to the headquarters at Olveston visibly shaken.

Shortly after the news broke of the 23-year-old’s death, many tributes were paid to the Devon rider and his friends and family.

Avon and Somerset Police were quickly on the scene and interviewed many riders, officials and members of the public in a bid to establish exactly what happened.

British Cycling president Brian Cookson said: “This is a tragedy which will profoundly sadden everyone associated with cycling in this country. My thoughts are with Junior’s family and with his friends.”