James McLaughlin rode professionally on the European circuit and had ambitions to make the highest level.
He achieved two top 10 finishes in races while representing Guernsey in the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and 2018, and also raced in Delhi in 2010.
This week at a pre-trial hearing in the Central London County Court, the extent of his injuries from the crash in May 2020 were laid out.
He was working as a cycle courier in London at the time and riding in a cycle lane in West Wickham, south-east London.
The passenger car door was opened into his path.
Insurers for the motorist and passenger are accepting liability for the accident, but disputing the amount of the compensation claim and whether Mr McLaughlin, now 34, received a brain injury.
The cyclist says the accident, where he was thrown from his bike, left him with serious injuries and brain damaged, leading to depression, memory loss, fatigue and post-traumatic stress disorder.
It is agreed that he damaged his shoulder and elbow in the crash.
He relies on an emotional support dog which was not allowed to accompany him into court.
His lawyer told the court that he had been plagued by problems as a result of his injuries, including poor concentration and memory, as well as anxiety and distress.
A neuropsychologist who examined him considered he had suffered a concussion after his head was ‘shaken around’ in the crash.
He also said that Mr McLaughlin could have returned to top cycling but the accident had meant he had ‘lost his cycling career’.
Lawyers for the insurance company have challenged the brain injury claim, and said there was no mention of Mr McLaughlin suffering a blow to the head at the time of the crash.
A full trial of the claim was originally scheduled for this year, but now could be delayed after the judge agreed that further neurological evidence could be introduced.
Mr McLaughlin would be considered one of Guernsey’s best-ever competitive cyclists.