Barry Wurlod, 54, was riding on his own during a regular early morning training ride along the Cobden-Terang Road when he was struck by a car travelling in the same direction about 5.50am.

Ambulance Victoria said Mr Wurlod was transported by helicopter to Melbourne’s Alfred hospital, arriving for treatment about 8am.

He is believed to have sustained a severe injury to one of his legs and will require surgery.

Warrnambool police and ambulance officers from several units attended.

Mr Wurlod is well known in the south-west cycling fraternity and is a member of the Warrnambool Veteran’s Cycling Club and the Camperdown Cycling Club.

He works as a personal trainer and leads spin classes at the Timboon Sporting Centre.

He has participated in several Murray to Moyne relays as a member of a Timboon team and has also taken part in the Alpine Classic.

Friend Chris Hibburt, of Timboon, said Mr Wurlod was looking forward to taking part in events at his first Tour Down Under in South Australia later this month.

“We’ll be all hoping he is as good as he can be,” Dr Hibburt said yesterday.

The Dixie incident is the third major crash involving a cyclist and a car in the south-west in the past nine months.

Warrnambool mother Janet Baldam, 47, died in April after being struck by a car from behind as she was riding along Hopkins Point Road.

Port Fairy cyclist Neil Duncan was seriously injured in August on a training run when he was knocked from his bike after the driver of a ute was blinded by sunlight.