As I understand it, the cyclist who sped away (and was killed) did so to draw the animal away from his companion, whose head was in the cougar's jaws and being shaken side to side.

So, he was hardly "running away," but rather trying to help. Tragically, his ploy worked -- at a terrible cost. I wasn't there, so I'm not inclined to armchair quarterback. Coming across a cougar that aggressive and persistent in broad daylight is the equivalent of a UFO.