Cyclist Mike Hall Hit and Killed by Car During Australia Race

Mike Hall: Cyclist Hit by Car and Killed During Australia Race

Veteran British endurance cyclist Mike Hall has died after being struck by a car during the Indian Pacific Wheel race from Perth to Sydney, Australia. (Lizzie Edmonds/PA Wire via AP Images)

By Clyde Hughes | Friday, 31 March 2017 01:32 PM EDT

Mike Hall, one of Britain's top ultra-distance cyclists, died Friday after he was struck by a car while in a coast-to-coast race in Australia.

Hall, 35, died at the scene after the collision with the car on Monaro Highway near Canberra about 6:20 a.m. local time, according to The Guardian. Hall was behind racer Kristof Allegaert in second place during the final stages of the 3,300-mile Indian Pacific Wheel Race when the incident happened, noted the newspaper.

The Sun wrote Hall was probably best known for breaking the world record for a round-the-world ride, taking 91 days and 18 hours to cycle around the globe in 2012.

"The Indian Pacific Wheel Race joins the family, loved ones and friends of Mike Hall in mourning his death," a statement from the race said on Facebook. "Mike was killed in an incident with a vehicle this morning. … Mike will be sorely missed.

"Mike's efforts in both raising money and spirits of others were tremendous and he leaves and incredible legacy. This tragedy is a great loss to the global cycling community," the statement continued.

Race organizers stated they will host a tribute for Hall on Sunday.

The Guardian reported the driver of the car involved in the accident is cooperating in the investigation.

Hall had posted a Twitter message days earlier complaining about vehicles passing too closely to riders.

I'm fine thanks to those asking, you can add about half a dozen close fast passes since last night though unfortunately... 1/2 #IPWR
— Mike Hall (@Normally_Human) March 26, 2017

2/2 Riders will want to be alert when entering this area, don't hug the shoulder, give yourself somewhere to bail to. #IPWR
— Mike Hall (@Normally_Human) March 26, 2017

James Hayden, Hall's friend and a fellow endurance cyclist, told The Guardian he set up a JustGiving.com page to support Hall's mother, Patricia, and partner, Anna, with expenses. The website raised more than $50,000 in less than a day.

"It is a devastating loss, but Mike's legacy will live on," Hayden told The Guardian. "The reason that the JustGiving page has had such a phenomenal response is that Mike was the greatest endurance racer that lived.

"He was the best. But he was also such a positive figure within the community of ultra-endurance racing. He set up his own race, the Transcontinental, to put back into the racing community. He was a shining light," Hayden continued.