Actor Ben Stiller pays tribute to Paul Sherwen after death at 62

The Hollywood star said he was lucky to have met Sherwen

Actor Ben Stiller at the 2009 Tour de France (Photo by Alexandre MARCHI/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

(Image credit: Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Hollywood star Ben Stiller has paid tribute to retired racer and broadcaster Paul Sherwen who died last weekend.

Sherwen died at home in Uganda at the age of 62, sparking an enormous outpouring of grief in the cycling world.

Long-time friend Phil Liggett paid touching tribute, along with current Tour de France commentator David Millar, Chris Froome and other pros, friends, fans and colleagues.

The latest name to share kind words about Sherwen, who commentated on 33 editions of the Tour de France alongside Liggett, is Zoolander star Stiller.

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On Wednesday, Stiller said on Twitter: “I am so shocked and saddened at the loss of Paul Sherwen.

“He was a kind and elegant man, who was so good at what he did.

"I feel lucky to have met him.

“I’m sending Paul’s family love and to you Phil Liggett.

“You and him are the Tour for so many of us.”

>>> Broadcaster Phil Liggett says death of close friend Paul Sherwen ‘hard to believe’

Stiller is a keen cycling follower – he was once filmed riding Lance Armstrong’s time trial bike on a turbo trainer at the Tour de France in 2009.

Sherwen became a household name in cycling circles commentating on the Tour along with close friend Liggett.

He rode professionally from 1978 to 1987, racing in seven Tours de France and winning two national titles.

>>> ‘I’ll remember Paul for many things – a pioneering professional cyclist, a great TV commentator, but most of all as a friend’

After retirement he commentated on the Tour de France for Channel 4, before moving to NBC Sports in America and SBS in Australia.

Sherwen is believed to have died from heart failure, according to his family following the post-mortem examination.

His death prompted a huge outpouring of grief from the cycling world. The Hollywood star said he was lucky to have met Sherwen

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Alex Ballinger

Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers.  Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.