Superb work on your intervention Phi you did the right thing. Not all forms of analgesia (pain relief) are pharmacutical. Psycological anagesia works just as well, distract him from the pain by talking about other things can work just as well believe it or not. Physical analgesia, such as you did by putting your hand in the way, is the third type. Maybe you missed your calling as a paramedic?! 
For what he did, the guy deserves to be locked away for a long time, but because our justice system sees cylists in some way to blame for being killed and maimed by motorists (I assume just by having the gall to be obtuse and use the same road space as a motorist) and he will get a slap on the wrist and be told not to do that again.. what a naughty boy!
Phil, for your actions, from a medic and a cyclist, you have my eternal respect 
Are you perchance claiming that no cyclist is ever at fault??
I have personally witnessed cyclists:
- riding at night with no lights, and wearing dark clothing
- riding on the footpath (one even had the nerve to ring his bell at me when he rode up behind me as I was walking to work - although I suppose I should be thankful he had a bell on his bike as -)
- not having a bell or other warning device
- ignoring red ATS and pedestrian crossings
- riding the wrong way down one-way streets
- riding on the main carriageway on a busy 60mph limit road when there is a seperate cycle lane running along the side of the road (not illegal I know, just stupid, imo)
A couple of years ago a lad was riding his bike at speed along the footpath not far from my house, when he got to the corner at a T-junction he shot straight out into the road in front of a car. I suppose that was the car driver's fault too?
Too many cyclists behave as though they are not subject to any road laws.
BTW, I am a cyclist, motorcyclist and car driver, obviously not all at the same time...
