TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved cycling fan who died whilst riding in Worcester.

Anthony Ryder, aged 46, was hit by a van as he rode his bike at the junction of the A449 and Claines Lane shortly before Christmas.

Mr Ryder’s wife Dionne Walton-Ryder said her husband was incredibly clever and creative and was always cycling.

She said: “He was very, very, very clever.

“He was massively into new technology. He would always compare whatever new gadgets he had with our son.

“He was very into DIY and was very creative.

“If he ever saw something he would say that he could make it himself and that he could do it for cheaper.

“The things he made would always last. He’d always do a better job than the real thing.

“He was very close to his children. He loved them very much and he looked after us all very well.”

Mrs Walton-Ryder described the many trips they made in the family motorhome, particularly to the Lake District.

She said: “We always found ourselves going north rather than south. He loved the Lake District.

“He always wanted to ride from Land’s End to John o’ Groats and ride through the Alps and we planned to travel abroad.”

Worcester manufacturers Southco also paid tribute to Mr Ryder – who worked at the company for 15 years.

The firm said: “He will be remembered as a dedicated champion of technology and a highly driven leader, but most importantly as a caring colleague and great friend to many of the people he worked alongside.

“Tony was a pleasure to work with and to learn from; smart, dynamic and full of enthusiasm. His focus and pride in everything he did shone out, as did his humour.

“Tony will be greatly missed from the Southco family, however we are proud that his achievements and personal qualities will have a long lasting legacy within our organisation.”

Mr Ryder, from Droitwich, took part in the Birmingham Velo race in September 2017 finishing in the top 100 and was due to race again this year.

Mrs Walton-Ryder added: “He kept saying that he was going to finish first. He was definitely competitive in that way.

“I’m not sure where the obsession [for cycling] came from, I think he just wanted to get fit and it just escalated from there.

“He loved cycling and was incredibly keen. He was always on his bike. He was always out cycling with friends and colleagues.”

The pair met whilst working at Droitwich manufacturers Koito and were together for 23 years. They married in Malvern in 2006.

Mrs Walton-Ryder said: “When I met him he was really into Autograss racing which he did at Radford and then he moved to quad biking and then eventually cycling.

Radford Autograss Club also paid tribute to Mr Ryder on its Facebook page.

In a post the club wrote: "Radford Autograss Club would like to send our thoughts and condolences to your family and friends at such a sad time.

"He was such a clever engineer, a great racing driver and a huge part of the club for many years even winning the MAP Open in 1998, something we were all very proud of.

"RIP Anthony."

A tribute page has been set up to commemorate Mr Ryder at anthony-ryder.muchloved.com