A 33-YEAR-OLD man who died during a cycling event in Oxfordshire had just started a new relationship and been offered a promotion at work before his death, an inquest heard.

Sam Rowley, from Putney in London, died after crashing with a car near local landmark Blowing Stone Hill near Wantage during the Classic Oxfordshire Sportive 100 Mile event last May.

His inquest began at Oxford Coroner’s Court yesterday where his older brother Alex paid tribute.

He said: “He was a funny and warm-hearted brother, a very popular person who had many friends.

“He had started a relationship with a girl called Amber, they had known each other for years but

only recently got together.

“Life was going well for him and his work was too - the loss of Sam has hit us all very hard.”

The analyst consultant was one of about 900 cyclists who took part in the event, organised by Bike Events LTD, which records the times of riders through three possible routes of 30, 60 and 100 miles around the county.

The inquest heard that Mr Rowley reached the bottom of Blowing Stone Hill described by other cyclists as ‘dangerous and steep’ and hit the side of a Vauxhall Zafira at the junction with the B4056 at Kingston Lisle and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver Michelle Rostami was cleared of all blame.

The inquest concludes today.