Anthony Paul DoyleMBE (19 May 1958 – 30 April 2023) was a British professional cyclist.
Biography
Doyle was born in Ashford, Middlesex on 19 May 1958.[2] He was world pursuit champion in 1980 and 1986. He was a professional between 1980 and 1995, riding for British teams.
Doyle finished seventh in the team pursuit at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow as part of the British team.[4] He was not selected for the individual pursuit even though he was the national champion. The place went to Sean Yates. As a result, Doyle turned professional and won the world professional pursuit championship, beating Bert Oosterbosch and Herman Ponsteen. He then raced six-day track races with a variety of partners before achieving great results partnering the Australian Danny Clark.
Doyle became a regular in six-day track races during the 1980s, winning 23 six days. As a result, he was and still is Britain's most successful six day rider. He was noted for fluid and rapid pedalling, which brought him an unofficial UK time-trial record for 25 miles on a 72-inch gear in 56m 30s.
In 1989 Tony Doyle suffered from a serious head injury and multiple fractures at the Munich Six day. He was given the last rites and was in a coma for ten days. He spent six weeks in ITU, followed by two months in a rehabilitation centre. Due to the extent of his injuries it was predicted that he would be unable to return to professional racing.[citation needed]
Unfortunately, a broken back as a result of a crash at the Six Day in Zurich ended his professional career. After that he remained in sport and in particular cycling. Doyle was elected President of British Cycling in late 1995 on a platform of increasing transparency and accountability. However, British Cycling's board attempted to remove him shortly afterwards: two weeks after this, he resigned.[8][9] He was the founder director of the Tour of Britain which restarted in 1994.[10] In 2009, he was inducted into the British Cycling Hall of Fame.[11] Tony Doyle was Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Board for the London Borough of Southwark.[needs update?]
His son George, was born in 1992. Daughter Gemma, was born in 1995 and his youngest son James was born in 1999.
Doyle died from pancreatic cancer on 30 April 2023, at the age of 64.[12]
^"Tony Doyle". British Cycling. September 2004. Archived from the original on 11 September 2005.). In 2007 Tony was part of the winning bid team to host the Grand Départ of the Tour De France in London.