The mountain biker who died in a Peak District tragedy was a Holmfirth man.

Police last night confirmed that the victim of the accident was 54-year-old Gordon Moss.

Mr Moss was a member of the Holme Valley Wheelers cycling club and last night other members paid tribute to the “happy, smiling man”.

Mr Moss was on a mountain bike when he fell 70ft down a rockface as he was riding with friends at a remote beauty spot Laddow Rocks on Black Hill on Sunday.

Other riders raised the alarm and a massive rescue operation was launched.

Paramedics in the Derbyshire Air Ambulance were called to the scene, but Mr Moss was pronounced dead.

Up to 20 members of the Kinder and Glossop Mountain Rescue Team were also called out.

A police helicopter moved the man’s body to a place where it could be carried down to a road.

Laddow Rocks
Laddow Rocks

A spokeswoman for Derbyshire Police said a file on Mr Moss’s death had been passed to the coroner.

It is thought Mr Moss was in training to take part in a bike race over Yorkshire’s Three Peaks later this year.

He had been a member of the Holme Valley Wheelers for many years and was a regular at their time trials each week.

Club secretary Jacqueline Haigh said: “It’s a real tragedy. Everybody liked Gordon, he was a happy, smiling man.

“He had been a member of the club for many years and was a regular at our time trials.

“He was always really pleasant with everyone and came across as a very happy person.

“He competed in the time trials and was also into mountain biking. I understand he was to take part in a Three Peaks race shortly and was practising for that at the weekend in the Peak District.

“I feel so sorry for his wife. I had seen her at some of our events and I know they enjoyed cycling together on a tandem.”