A 43-year-old cyclist, named on the Trent Valley Road Club’s website as Andrew Ridsdale from Epsom CC, was killed near Blyth on the A1 in Nottinghamshire yesterday morning after being struck by a lorry while taking part in the Trent Valley 10-mile time trial.

Nottinghamshire Police said in a statement appealing for witnesses that the fatal collision took place at 8.55am on the southbound carriageway of the road, two miles south of Blyth.

It added that no arrest had been made and that anyone with information about the incident should contact it on 101, extension 800 2225.

Unlike some other European countries, Britain has no restrictions on the circulation of goods vehicles on Sundays weekends.

France, for example, bans most lorries over 7.5 tonnes from roads including motorways for 24 hours beginning 10pm on Saturday evenings, with wider-ranging bans in Summer.

Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Spain also ban HGVs on Sundays, although precise timings vary. Lorries carrying perishable products such as fresh produce are exempt.

In May 2009, army officer Gareth Evans lost his life while taking part in a time trial elsewhere on the A1.

The driver involved in the incident near St Ives in Cambridgeshire claimed she had not seen Major Evans but was convicted of causing his death by dangerous driving and sentenced to 21 months in prison.