Tony Doyle

Anthony Paul Doyle (19 May 1958 – 30 April 2023) was a British professional cyclist.

Biography Doyle was born in Ashford, Middlesex on 19 May 1958. He was world pursuit champion in 1980 and 1986. He was a professional between 1980 and 1995, riding for British teams.

Doyle represented England and won two bronze medals in the 4,000 metres individual and team pursuit events, at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Doyle finished seventh in the team pursuit at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow as part of the British team. 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.

Doyle received the Bidlake Memorial Prize in 1980 following his first world championship. He was appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to cycling in the 1988 Birthday Honours.

Doyle took silver in the team pursuit at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

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. He was the founder director of the Tour of Britain which restarted in 1994. In 2009, he was inducted into the British Cycling Hall of Fame. Tony Doyle was Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Board for the London Borough of Southwark.

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.

Major results Track

1978 Commonwealth Games

1980

1981

1983 1st Six Days of Berlin (with Danny Clark) 1st Six Days of Dortmund (with Danny Clark)

1984

1985 1st Six Days of Bremen (with Gary Wiggins) 1st Six Days of Maastricht (with Danny Clark)

1986

1st Six Days of Ghent (with Danny Clark) 1st Six Days of Berlin (with Danny Clark) 1st Six Days of Dortmund (with Danny Clark) 1st Six Days of Grenoble (with Francesco Moser) 1987 UCI Track World Championships

1st Six Days of Maastricht (with Danny Clark) 1st Six Days of Copenhagen (with Danny Clark) 1st Six Days of Bremen (with Danny Clark) 1st Six Days of Paris (with Danny Clark) 1st Six Days of Bassano Del Grappa (with Moreno Argentin) 1988

1st Six Days of Munster (with Danny Clark) 1st Six Days of Berlin (with Danny Clark) 1st Six Days of Dortmund (with Danny Clark) 1st Six Days of Munich (with Danny Clark) 1st Six Days of Launceston (with Danny Clark) 1st Six Days of Copenhagen (with Danny Clark) 1st Six Days of Rotterdam (with Danny Clark)

1989

1st Six Days of Cologne (with Danny Clark) 1990 1st Six Days of Munich (with Danny Clark) 1991 1st Six Days of Ghent (with Etienne De Wilde) 1994

Road

1976 2nd National junior road race series 1977 1st Manchester–Rhyl Stage Race 1979 2nd Overall Circuit des Ardennes 1st 13 times in French Road Races 1980 1st 4 times in French Road Races 1981 1st Overall Girvan Three Day 1982 1st Overall Girvan Three Day 1983 1st Kelloggs Nottingham City Centre 1st Stage 5 Sealink International 1984 2nd Overall Sealink International 1st Stage 3 1986 1st Overall Ron Kitching Classic 1st Stage 1 1st Stage 5 Sealink International 1st Kelloggs Westminster City Centre 1989 1st Stage 8 Milk Race 1992 3rd Tom Simpson Memorial RR 1993 1st Stage 3 Rás Tailteann 1994 1st Victor Belmont Road Race