A CYCLING hero who lost his life 50 years ago this year on a mountain was honoured by Britain's first Tour de France winner in his hometown today.

Tom Simpson was one of the greatest cyclists of his day and had been competing in the Tour de France in 1967 when he collapsed on the fearsome Mont Ventoux and later died.

A post-mortem revealed Simpson had taken amphetamines and alcohol, drug taking was widespread in the sport at the time. Together with the heat and a stomach problem, it led to his untimely death at the age of 29.

Born in Haswell, County Durham, Simpson won the World Road Race Championships and was crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

He was destined, it seemed, for much greater things.

As a child, Sir Bradley Wiggins - the first Briton to win the Tour when he achieved the feat in 2012 - learned of Simpson's achievements and he immediately became a hero to him.

"He is one of my heroes, probably the ultimate hero really," said Wiggins.

"In the same way kids of my age when we were younger probably looked up to Bobby Moore like that.

"He had the kind of legend, iconic status. People's deaths increase that as well, like Bobby Moore when he died in 93.

"Their status almost goes up a level when they die, because they are not around anymore, you are left with iconic vision and the pictures.

"That only increased the fascination for me. The fact he died doing something we are all trying to do every day and in the prime of his career as well."

The stone memorial was made possible by Simpson's family and is in place at the Hazelwell Centre on Windsor Terrace.

  • A full feature on the day will appear in Monday's The Northern Echo