An experienced cyclist died after losing control of his bike and falling into the path of an oncoming car, an inquest concluded.

Richard Ralph Marsh, 48, was riding with friends on Sandy Lane, Higher Kinnerton, when the collision occurred on February 17.

He was flown to the Royal Stoke University Hospital where he received several days of treatment, but died on February 23.

At an inquest in Ruthin John Gittins, coroner for North Wales East and Central, heard evidence from two friends of Mr Marsh who had been cycling with him on the day of the collision.

Bruce Clapton and Paul Gibson said their friend, who lived in Bramley Court, Kelsall, near Tarporley, was a sports enthusiast and a keen cyclist.

Mr Clapton explained the three had started their day in Chester before making their way through Shotton, Hawarden, Dobshill and Penyffordd on what was a leisure ride.

He told the hearing that once they got to Sandy Lane - which was described as a country lane with a slight downhill gradient - they ‘freewheeled’ while having a conversation.

Their formation, Mr Clapton said, saw himself on the inside with Mr Marsh on his right and Mr Gibson slightly behind of them, adding they had been riding responsibly.

It was at this point they alerted each other of an oncoming car and Mr Marsh dropped back to fall into single file, following which Mr Clapton found himself being pushed into the bushes at the verge on the side of the road.

When he turned around, once the car had passed, it was not Mr Marsh as he had expected to find behind him, but Mr Gibson.

They then discovered Mr Marsh had gone under the car, a Jaguar X Type driven by Keith Humphreys, and was not moving.

Mr Humphreys told the hearing he had come around the bend in Sandy Lane at low speed and became aware of three oncoming cyclists who appeared to him to be riding ‘three abreast’ or ‘staggered’.

Mr Gibson said his friends had been riding side by side in front of him and he was close behind them in the middle.

Mr Humphreys applied the brakes and pulled his vehicle to the side of the road but one of the cyclists left their bike and collided with his car, Mr Humphreys said.

By chance a doctor, Hannah Cliffe, had been tending to her horse in a nearby field and arrived on the scene to give help.

Collision investigator PC James Nobbs said an examination of the car and three bikes had found no defects which could have contributed to the incident.

He recited Highway Code rule 66 - that cyclists should never ride more than two abreast and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads - and concluded that when Mr Marsh had tried to fall into single file the three bikes had made contact.

This, he said, was the catalyst which caused Mr Marsh to lose his balance and ultimately control of the bike.

PC Nobbs said Mr Humphreys’ vehicle had been driven entirely appropriately and the coroner told him: “It is very clear there is nothing more you could have done to avoid this tragic accident.”

Mr Gittins concluded the death of Mr Marsh had arisen from a road traffic collision.