The 64-year-old from Langcliffe, near Settle, collided with a VW Golf car which was towing a caravan on the A65 Settle bypass near Gildersleets, in Giggleswick at 11.05am on Thursday.

He was taken to Airedale General Hospital where he died of his injuries shortly afterwards.

As secretary of the Settle-based World Wide Wheelers racing cycling club he was a key figure in organising many of the cycling events at last weekend's Settle Community and Cycling Festival.

In addition he organised the Etape du Dales, a gruelling 110-mile cycling marathon in the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria which attracted hundreds of national and international cyclists.

Sid Barras, national veterans champion, who lives in Keighley, said his death would be a great loss to the cycling fraternity.

"I first met him in 1966 and became mates straightaway," he said. "We rode a two stage road race. I happened to win and Stuart shook my hand and gave me a big smile. I will really miss him.

"In the 60s/70s he was what was called a First Category rider and was bordering on professional/international level. Sadly he suffered a very bad road accident and broke his leg."

The Etape raised money for the Dave Rayner fund - a charity set up in memory of the Bradford cyclist who competed on the professional cycling circuit in Europe and the United States. Money raised helped young British riders to compete in Europe.

Anyone who witnessed the accident or has information about it should contact Carl Chaffer at Skipton road policing unit on 0845 6060 247.