A CYCLIST has warned others to be vigilant after a group of people pelted him with objects from their moving car.

Tony Wood, 64, was cycling along the B1053 from Little Sampford towards Wethersfield when he was targeted by passengers in a white 4x4.

Mr Wood, of New Road, Gosfield, was hit twice by unknown objects, once on his leg and once on his back, during the 40 mile ride on Tuesday night.

He said: “You get the odd people just shout to you when you’re going along.

“I thought it was strange he hadn’t overtaken because there was room to. They made a point of following me for a few hundred yards.

“It could have been a rock they threw, it was something hard that hit my thigh and then they went off in a different direction through Finchingfield.

“As I was coming to Wethersfield, they caught up and threw something that glanced across my back.”

Mr Wood is an experienced cyclist who usually goes out on his bike three times a week.

He has recently taken part in a race at Newmarket, Helen Rollason’s annual bike ride and will be competing in Mud, Sweat and Gears at Carver Barracks on Sunday.

Mr Wood added: “I couldn’t even tell the make of the car, there was no way I could get my phone out.

“I’m maybe a little bit tentative now if I go out on my own.

“It has not put me off cycling, but I can’t let things like that interfere. But for anybody out on their own in the evenings it’s worth them noting that it happened and to be aware of it.”

His daughter, Linzi Wood, who contacted the Gazette to warn people, says her dad faces regular abuse just for cycling.

She said: “I think it’s truly disgusting that a group of people could do such a thing to an innocent cyclist.

“Dad was just out for an innocent bike ride on his own at dusk and was assaulted by some pathetic lowlives who find it funny to assault an innocent man.

“My dad faces regular abuse from drivers — like most cyclists experience — due to the inconvenience of slowing down traffic. But cyclists deserve the same respect, if not more, as other drivers as they are more exposed and vulnerable.

“Drivers need to shrug off the attitude towards cyclists, and give them a little more space and respect when faced on our roads.

“Otherwise, serious accidents will happen.”