Paul Atkinson, 45, of Bedenscroft in Bognor Regis, died after a collision at the Lee Valley VeloPark near Stratford, created for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Senior coroner Graeme Irvine called it a “tragic incident” and “dreadfully sad”.
He opened an inquest into Mr Atkinson’s death at East London Coroner’s Court, Walthamstow, on Monday, April 14.
Mr Atkinson had been participating in a competition on Saturday, March 22, said Mr Irvine, when “it would appear there was a collision with another bicycle”.
Mr Atkinson reportedly went over his handlebars and hit his head on the ground.
His heart stopped, said the coroner, and resuscitation was attempted while the London Ambulance Service was called. Paramedics arrived within five minutes.
Mr Atkinson was showing signs of “neurological trauma”, including fixed, enlarged pupils, so was taken to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, London’s recognised major trauma centre.
There followed “continuous resuscitative effort for over an hour”, the coroner said, but he was pronounced dead at 12.55pm.
A post-mortem examination gave his provisional cause of death as “traumatic cervical spine fracture”.
Michael Waite, secretary of Mr Atkinson’s cycling club, Velo Club St Raphael, described his death as “devastating”.
“Paul was a credit to Velo Club St Raphael over many years as a rider and a person. He will be sadly missed by his family and the club,” he said.
Mr Irvine opened an inquest and announced three “interested persons” – a legal status entitling individuals or organisations to examine evidence ahead of a final inquest and question any witnesses called to testify.
The interested persons were Mr Atkinson’s family, Velo Club St Raphael and Lee Valley VeloPark.
From the latter, the coroner said, “I will need confirmation within seven days that the CCTV at the premises has been saved for the purposes of an inquest.”
He also wanted statements from all staff present.
The full inquest was scheduled for October 13.
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British Cycling – England’s national governing body for the sport – said it had launched its own separate investigation.
“We sincerely thank the local ambulance and police services, as well as the volunteers, first aiders and Lee Valley VeloPark staff, for their swift and dedicated response,” it said.
“Paul was regarded highly by the wider cycling community and will be missed by all who knew him. Our thoughts are with Paul’s family and friends.”
A spokesman for Lee Valley VeloPark would not comment on the coroner’s investigation.
They would only say: “We will support British Cycling in its investigation if and when required.”
