Tributes paid to father of British cycle racing

A bike rider from the Black Country regarded as one of the founding fathers of modern professional cycling in this country has died at the age of 88.

Stan Kite was a life-long member and former secretary of Wolverhampton Wheelers Cycling Club, and worked tirelessly throughout his life promoting the sport he loved.

The Wolverhampton-born father of two met his late wife Betty through cycling and his son Neil became a Midlands area champion.

He organised the longest ever UK professional road race, a 254-mile marathon from Marble Arch in London to Holyhead on Anglesey and become a driving force during a purple patch in the history of UK professional cycling racing in the 1980s.

Former world professional pursuit champion Hugh Porter, who lives in Wolverhampton, said: "He was a very important person in the world of cycling, both locally and nationally.

"He did an enormous amount of work for the sport, was a good friend and will be greatly missed."

Mr Kite's funeral will be next Tuesday at 1.30pm in the West Chapel of Bushbury Crematorium.