FADED road markings and a shrouded give way sign were partly to blame for a cyclist’s death, a court heard yesterday.

Sam Rowley fatally smashed into a car at 40mph after failing to notice a junction during the Classic Oxfordshire Sportive last year.

The 33-year-old crashed his bike at the bottom of Blowing Stone Hill near Wantage on May 8, as he crossed the B4056.

Oxford Coroner’s Court heard how analyst consultant Mr Rowley, of Putney in London, failed notice a give way sign because it was covered with overgrown shrubs.

Paired with poor signage put out by event marshals, eroded road markings and lack of attention from an on-site marshal, he sped in front of an oncoming Vauxhall Zafira.

Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter grilled Oxfordshire County Council about the state of the junction yesterday but concluded that it was ultimately the ‘shared responsibility’ of event organiser Bike Events, and Southern Marshalling who were in charge of signage and marshals.

He said: “We can’t change things about the loss of Sam but at least this might bring some reassurance that lessons can be learnt and steps put in place for the future.”

The coroner said the three signs put up by Southern Marshalling on the hill were ‘insufficient’ and said Bike Event’s general risk assessment of the route was ‘not fit for purpose’ as it was written in 2013.

He resolved to write letters urging Southern Marshalling to offer better training for marshals, and Bike Events to carry out its own safety review shortly before events take place.

He will also write to the council and to Thames Valley Police about sending general responses to organisers when they notify them of an event. He concluded death by road traffic collision.