POLICE have seized a car believed to have been involved in a hit-run that seriously injured a cyclist at Lake Wendouree in Ballarat.

Father of two Christian Ashby, 36, was on his regular early-morning ride around Lake Wendouree at 6.20am on Friday when a car veered on to the wrong side of the road and hit him head-on.

The keen triathlete and podiatrist was left fighting for life and remained in a serious condition at the Royal Melbourne Hospital this afternoon.

Detectives visited an address in Delacombe at 3pm today, seizing the car for forensic testing.

Police have identified the person they believe was behind the wheel at the time and are hoping to make an arrest soon.

Detective Sgt Mark Amos, of the Major Collision Investigation Unit, said the officers were closing in on a “person of interest” after seizing the car.

media_camera The CCTV footage of the silver Mitsubishi Lancer.

“The car is going to be examined and we are making further enquiries to locate the person who we think was driving the car at the time,” he said.

“At the time of the crash we believe one person was in the car. We are putting things in place in order to locate that person.

“The investigation is progressing well.”

Detectives had released CCTV footage of a silver Mitsubishi Lancer believed to be the car involved.

Andrew Robertson, a friend of Mr Ashby’s at the Ballarat Triathlon Club, told the Sunday Herald Sun the fitness enthusiast was a “well-respected family man”.

“He is always out early in the morning because he wants to get home for when his kids wake up,” Mr Robertson said.

“Christian is an elite runner. He has had a bad achilles so he has been doing the bike recently. He is a great guy. The kind of person who doesn’t have a bad word to say about anybody.

“Exercise is important to him but he gets it done early so he can be with his family.

“How a human being can do that to another human being is beyond me. Christian is held in the highest regard by all of us and our thoughts are with his family.”

media_camera Christian Ashby's bike. Picture: Supplied

Detective Sgt Mark Amos, of the Major Collision Investigation Unit, said: “When we consider all of the circumstances there are a lot of things to be concerned about.

“There is every possibility this was a deliberate action.”

Police don’t believe Mr Ashby was personally targeted but fear it was a deliberate action to hurt a cyclist.

“The driver will have known he was involved in a collision. To leave someone on the side of the road is callous,” said Sgt Amos.

CCTV footage of the car was captured from a garbage truck cabin video in Greenhalghs Road in Delacombe two hours later. The vehicle’s windscreen was smashed and part of the body kit at the rear was left dangling.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

david.hurley@news.com.au

@davidhurleyHS