Former British time trial and road race champion Sharon Laws dies aged 43

The 2008 British National Time Trial Champion and 2012 British National Road Race Champion Sharon Laws has died at the age of 43 after being diagnosed with cervical cancer in October 2016.

A statement by Voxwomen on behalf of Laws’ family read: “This morning the cycling world lost a champion, a friend, a rider with a huge smile and a fantastic laugh. Sharon Laws passed away early this morning after her fight with cancer. Her mum Joy and her family have asked for privacy at this time. RIP Sharon Laws 1974-2017.”

Laws only began riding on the road to train for mountain biking, but turned professional at the age of 33 in the year she became national time trial champion.

Also that year, she represented Great Britain in the Olympic road race in Beijing, helping Nicole Cooke to a gold medal.

In 2012 Laws was dropped from the Great Britain squad five weeks before the Olympic road race. Days after the decision was announced, she won the national road race, attacking with around a lap and a half to go and riding solo for 15 miles to clinch victory.

She retired from professional cycling in August 2016 and underwent six months of chemotherapy from October 2016 after learning she had cervical cancer.

A spokesperson for British Cycling told The Guardian: “Everyone who loves cycling will be affected by Sharon’s passing. She was as big-hearted and determined in life as she was on a bike, and represented her country and her sport with distinction. The thoughts of everyone at British Cycling are with her friends and family.”

Sharon Laws: 1974 - 2017. https://t.co/BQvWlUvWs1 pic.twitter.com/iLU6Qm2sCy

— Voxwomen (@Voxwomen) December 16, 2017