Sir Chris Hoy has led the tributes to Richard Moore, the Scottish journalist, author and former racing cyclist who has died at the age of 49.
Moore was a team-mate of Hoy’s at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, where he competed for Scotland in the road race and time trial, but he became better known as an acclaimed cycling writer.
As well as contributing regularly to newspapers, such as The Times and The Sunday Times, he wrote several books, one of which, In Search of Robert Millar, was named Best Biography at the 2008 British Sports Book awards.
He also penned two highly regarded books on athletics, and worked with Hoy on his autobiography. The six-times Olympic champion was among the first to react on Twitter when Moore’s death was announced yesterday.
“Absolutely devastated to hear the awful news that Richard Moore has passed away,” Hoy wrote. “Can’t quite believe it. An incredible person who touched so many lives. Wish I’d told him just how much I thought of him before he went. Rest in peace Richard x.”
Advertisement
Born in Edinburgh, Moore began writing about cycling just as it was growing in popularity. When a generation of world-class riders emerged in Britain, it led to a boom in the sport and Moore was acknowledged as an expert in the field, covering major sporting events such as the Olympic Games and the Tour de France.
Moore was much-loved and admired by friends, fellow journalists and the cycling community, not just for the rigorous quality of his work, but for the warmth and humour of his personality. Many said yesterday that the sport was indebted to him for his life-long commitment to it.
In recent years, he was based in France with his young family, devoting more time to The Cycling Podcast, which he founded in 2013 with his fellow journalists, Lionel Birnie and Daniel Friebe. Yesterday morning, the podcast broke the news that their friend and colleague had died.
“Monday was an unfathomably difficult day. In the morning we received the news that our leader, lynchpin, friend and brother Richard Moore had passed away. We are all shattered.
“Before the podcast’s genesis in 2013, Richard had already built one flourishing career as a brilliant, versatile and prolific author and journalist. His books won awards, his warmth and humour drew friends — an enormous circle of the most diverse personality types spanning sports and continents.
Advertisement
“To us, he was a force of nature, unerring but above all unifying. There can be no consolation today, but the closest thing is knowing that the network of affection and love he knitted will now become an edifice of support for those most deeply affected by this loss.”
Scottish Cycling said that he would be sorely missed. The Women’s Tour said it was shocked and saddened and that it would miss his “knowledge, insight and acerbic wit”. Callum Skinner, who won gold and silver medals at the 2016 Olympics, said it was “heartbreaking” news.
“A great friend and journo ever present throughout my career, including my first interview at 13,” tweeted Skinner. “Unbelievably trustworthy in his profession no matter how salacious the story. It was never published or gossiped without consent. A friend first.”
As an author, Moore wrote mostly about cycling, but versatility was another of his strengths and his work transcended the sport. There was widespread praise for his books on athletics, especially The Dirtiest Race in History, about the 100m final at the Olympic Games in Seoul, which was long-listed for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year in 2012. Richard Osman, the best-selling writer and broadcaster, yesterday said it was among his favourite sports books of all time. “Do please buy one if you want an incredible story written by an incredible writer,” he said.
But Moore will be remembered most for his deep love and understanding of cycling. His books on the subject also included Slaying the Badger, Étape and Sky’s the Limit. His knowledge and insight was valued by newspapers, magazines and the broadcast media. “I got to know him fairly well given his work with us on radio and TV,” John Beattie, the BBC presenter, said. “Superb at his job and a lovely man.”
Advertisement
The esteem in which he was held by cyclists reflected the care and professionalism with which he undertook his work. Tao Geoghegan Hart, the British rider who won the 2020 Giro d’Italia, said he was in complete shock at the loss of someone who had put so much pride, passion and love into his coverage
of cycling.
“Thinking a great deal about Daniel, Lionel, Orla, Richard’s family and all of his friends,” he said. “Along with everyone in the Scottish and British cycling community. Rest in peace Richard. You and your work left cycling a better place.”