Friends of a cyclist who was killed in a crash on Sydney's upper north shore have paid tribute to the 45-year-old Optus manager, who was riding with a group of colleagues including the company's CEO when he died.

Paulo Froes suffered massive head injuries when he clipped a taxi that was slowing down ahead of him on Kissing Point Road in Turramurra and slid into the path of an oncoming car on Wednesday morning, police said.

The driver of the car that struck him was a 17-year-old female on her learner's licence from Carlingford, who was being supervised by her father at the time.

Mr Froes, the head of business planning and delivery at Optus, was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition but was pronounced dead when he arrived.

The father from Frenchs Forest was riding down the steep road as part of a group of six Optus employees, including Optus chief executive Kevin Russell, when the accident occurred at 7.55am on Wednesday.

Mr Russell said Mr Froes' many colleagues and friends were mourning the tragic loss.

"We are all in a state of shock and sadness at this terrible news," Mr Russell said.
"Paulo was a dear friend and a highly valued and passionate member of the Optus team. He was universally liked and respected by all his colleagues.

"Our deepest sympathies go to his wife, Bernice, his young daughter and his family. We are doing what we can to support them and urge everyone to respect their privacy at this time."

Mr Froes, originally from South Africa, had worked for Optus since 2011.

The cyclists were believed to be riding towards Optus' North Ryde headquarters when the accident occurred.

Inspector David Hogg, the duty officer at Ku-ring-gai Local Area Command, said the cyclist was believed to have swerved to avoid colliding with another vehicle, which was slowing down in the south-bound lane to allow a car to reverse out of a driveway.

"The bike rider didn't see the vehicle in time," he said. "He clipped the back of the car before losing control and falling into the path of a car travelling in the northbound lane.
Police said there was no suggestion that the learner driver was at fault.

"We are not looking at it as a criminal matter. At this stage, our inquiries indicate the rider was at fault. Independent witnesses support that."

A post on Facebook said that Mr Froes' fellow cyclists were "beside themselves".

"There was a doctor living in a house close by and she and her husband worked on him for a long time. His helmet did nothing for him," the woman wrote.

Mr Froes this year participated in the Tour de Cure's Signature Tour, a charity cycling event in which a team rode 1521 kilometres from Adelaide to Canberra.

On his fundraising page for that event, Mr Froes wrote that some of his family and close friends had battled cancer, and he had previously been involved in programs to raise funds and awareness of the disease.

"Tour de Cure is a perfect opportunity to do both and to sate a love for cycling inside of a well-run and professional environment," he wrote. "I appreciate your support as I ride to cure cancer."

He raised more than $3500 for the event.
Samantha Hollier-James, co-founder and managing director of Tour de Cure, said the organisation was mourning the loss of a much-loved member of its family.

"We are all in a state of shock over this terrible news," she said in a statement. "Paulo rode on our 2013 Signature Tour as an Optus Guest Rider and was a passionate contributor to curing cancer.

"Our hearts go out to his wife and family. We are doing everything we can to support them and Optus at this very difficult time."