Dark-coloured clothing may have led to cyclist's death

CYCLING champion Jason MacIntyre's dark clothing may have played a factor in the crash which killed him, a fatal accident inquiry has heard.

George Swan, 56, drove in front of the Olympic hopeful on the A82 and said he was travelling at the "remarkable speed" of 30mph just prior to the accident.

Mr Swan added that the cyclist was not wearing "good clothing" for January.

And police constable George MacAskill, who helped in the road accident investigation, claimed the cyclist's clothing may have been a factor in the accident.

Mr MacIntyre was wearing black leggings, a grey jacket and a blue-and-white Scotland top when he was involved in the crash with a Highland Council pick-up on 15 January, 2008.

Mr Swan, a surveyor from Inverness, told the inquiry at Fort William Sheriff Court that he had seen MacIntyre hitting speeds of 30mph before the accident on the outskirts of the Highland town.

Mr MacIntyre, described as one of Scotland's top road racers, had been in intensive training in the hope of selection for the Olympics in Beijing and also the Commonwealth Games this year in Delhi.

In January 2008, more than 400 mourners gathered for Mr MacIntyre's funeral, including former world champion cyclist Graham Obree.