A PROFESSIONAL cyclist has spoken of how he broke down in tears following a near miss that could have ended his career or even his life.

Alex Dowsett, from Maldon, rides for the Katusha-Alpecin cycling team.

He took to Twitter after he was nearly hit in a head on collision.

Thankfully, the multiple British time trial champion was able to avoid the car, but was left clearly shaken.

Mr Dowsett, formerly part of Maldon and District Cycling Club, said: “Today a new red Porsche Cayenne overtook another car but in doing so he came straight at me on my side of the road, doing, I would guess, around 60-80mph. I was doing 25mph.

“Needless to say had I not reacted with a veer to the left, a deep breath in, and pulling my shoulders and elbows in then I likely wouldn’t be writing this post, perhaps not a post ever again.

“Of course I was angry initially, in shock that someone could take such a chance with someone else’s life for the sake of an overtake, I was angry that I couldn’t get to him afterwards, angry that I had no proof of it and there was nothing I could do but simply get over it myself and hope he had a fright as well.

“But then my thoughts turned to my mother, whom in 2010 and early on in her endeavours on a road bike was driven off the road by a car and caravan and sustained bad injuries. She hasn’t been back on a road bike since.”

A less experienced rider may not have been able to avoid the head on collision, according to Mr Dowsett.

He went on to praise the work that was being done to make the roads safer by former cyclist Chris Boardman, and called on all road users, drivers and cyclists, to be more respectful to one another.

He added: “I was in tears afterwards. It’s the closest I’ve ever been to a career or life ending crash and it scared the living daylights out of me, made me question why we do what we do and if the consequences are worth it.

“My heart goes out to anyone that’s lost a loved one because of the poor decision making or inattentiveness of another road user.

“I praise Chris Broadman for the tireless work he does to make our roads safer for everyone and I urge cyclists and car drivers to respect the rules of the road, respect each other and exercise some patience, neither one of us are going anywhere and neither one of us own the road.”