AN INQUEST into the death of a North Yorkshire endurance cyclist will take place in Australia in the new year.

Mike Hall, 35, was killed during the Indian Pacific Wheel Race which ran 5,500km (3,400 miles) from Perth to Sydney in March.

Mr Hall died as he passed through the Allansford area of Victoria on March 26, just days after warning other competitors of some “close, fast passes” by some vehicles on social media.

He warned other competitors on Twitter of a car which has “just tucked his front wing under my right knee” – adding the hashtag, #intimidation.

Responding to concerned replies he added: “I’m fine thanks to those asking, you can add about half a dozen close fast passes since last night though unfortunately… Riders will want to be alert when entering this area, don't hug the shoulder, give yourself somewhere to bail to.”

Mr Hall, who was originally from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, but who had been living in Monmouthshire, South Wales, was in second place when the crash happened on the Monaro Highway near Williamsdale, close to the border of New South Wales at 6.30am. The race had begun with about 70 cyclists on March 18 in Fremantle, Wester Australia, and was due to finish at the Sydney Opera house on Friday.

No criminal charges were brought in relation to Mr Hall's death.

Mr Hall had previously won one of the world’s longest mountain bike races, the 4,400km Tour Divide across the Rocky Mountains from Canada to Mexico and the world's longest road bike race, the 29,000-kilometre World Cycle Race.

Australian media reported that at a directions hearing at coroner’s court on Monday, Coroner Bernadette Boss invited interested parties to seek leave to appear at the inquest.

Only the territory government applied. It is not yet clear whether the race organisers will appear at the inquest.

The Canberra Times reported that the inquest will return on February 6 for further directions, and to set down a timetable for the inquiry.