Grieving father rides to remember son killed in road accident
Grieving Steve Guy paid an emotional tribute to his talented cyclist son Joe yesterday - three months after the 16-year-old was killed in a road accident.
The 56-year-old father of three made a last minute decision to take part in the 20k bike ride - won by Joe at the age of 14 - that accompanies the annual Wolverhampton Marathon.
Rising star Joe, from Willenhall, was training to become a professional time trial rider when fatally injured in an accident with a van at Vicarage Road, Four Ashes on May 31.
Mr Guy, who took up bike racing when aged 18, rode one of his son's cycles on the ride of remembrance and finished in tears.
He said afterwards: "I was thinking of him all the way round the course. It was very emotional but I am pleased I did it. I had only been on a bike twice since his death but this ride has helped renew my love of cycling."
Mr Guy, who had two punctures during the event after deciding to take part just days before the start, continued: "I had done this race with Joe since he was 10."
He was accompanied for much of yesterday's ride by cycling legend Hugh Porter who said: "He was carrying a heavy legacy and talked a lot about his son on the way. He did very well."
Mr Guy, whose brother-in-law Darren Williams, 56, also took part - was met at the finish by wife Angela, who was accompanied by her sister-in-law and niece, and said:
"This place has a lot of happy memories for us. I am very proud of my husband and Joe would have been too. Cycling has always been a big family thing and now I am going to have a go as well."
Jonathan Perry, a 42-year-old plant fitter from Wombourne who finished first in this year's bike race , said: "I would like to dedicate the win to Joe. I race with him earlier this year and his death affected a lot of the cycling community."
