Last Sunday, Rab Wardle became a national champion in Scotland.
Two days later, he died in bed next to Olympic champion Katie Archibald.
“You mean everything to me, Rap. I love you.”Archibald Marks Twitter.
On Sunday, Rab Wardle became the Scottish mountain biking champion, and on Monday evening the 37-year-old appeared on television and spoke of the three-hole win.
“To be honest, it was a disaster, but I’m going to keep driving and keep racing,” Wardle told the BBC.
Rab Wardle died in his sleep
Just hours after Wardle spoke about the future, the cycling world was forced to note that he died in his sleep overnight on Tuesday.
“We send our love and support to his family, friends and everyone who knew him in our community”Scottish Cycling Association writes.
His partner, Katie Archibald, also wrote about his grief and cause of death on Wednesday morning.
“I think you heard that Rapp passed away yesterday morning. I still don’t understand what happened. If this is true: why is he being taken away from me now, healthy and happy?”, Archibald signs Twitter.
“I need it”
The 28-year-old Archibald, who won gold in cycling at the Olympics in both 2016 and 2020, writes that she tried to save Rab Wardle’s life.
“He had a cardiac arrest while we were in bed. I tried and I tried and the paramedics came within minutes. But his heart stopped and they couldn’t bring him back” Archibald writes.
She says her heart died while Wardle II stopped beating.
“I need him here with me but he’s gone and I can’t describe this pain. I can’t stand talking about him as something in the past. You mean everything to me, Rap. I love you.”