Former world cycling champion Rohan Dennis has reportedly been charged in connection with the death of his wife, Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins, who died after being struck by a vehicle while riding in Adelaide
December 31, 2023, 3:00 p.m. ET
• 3 min reading
ADELAIDE, Australia – Former world cycling champion Rohan Dennis has reportedly been charged in connection with the death of his wife, Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins, who died after being struck by a vehicle while riding in Adelaide.
According to Australian media reports, Dennis was sentenced to death for dangerous driving, endangering life and careless driving. He was reportedly released on bail to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in March.
Hoskins, 32, competed for Australia at the Olympics in London and Rio de Janeiro.
Police said emergency responders were called to an address in the Adelaide suburb of Medindie about 8pm on Saturday after reports a woman had been struck by a vehicle.
Police said the woman, later identified as Hoskins, suffered serious injuries and died after being taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Hoskins competed on the track in the team pursuit at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games and was part of the squad that won the 2015 world title in this discipline.
“Melissa described her gold medal in the team pursuit at the 2015 World Championships as the highlight of her career, but for the rest of us the highlight was simply having her with us,” AusCyling chief executive Marne Fechner said in a statement on Monday.
“Although she retired in 2017, her presence as a graduate of the sport was felt and appreciated by many in the cycling and equestrian community.”
Hoskins also competed in road cycling for several years with the Australian team GreenEDGE.
Dennis, 33, won two world road time trial titles as well as silver in the team pursuit at the London Olympics and bronze in the road time trial at the Tokyo Olympics.
He became the seventh Australian to wear the yellow jersey as race leader in the Tour de France by winning the opening time trial in 2015, setting a race record for average speed.
Dennis, who is retired from cycling, was named Australian Cyclist of the Year in 2015 and 2018 and won the 2015 Tour Down Under in his hometown of Adelaide. Following his retirement and their marriage in 2018, the Dennis family moved from Europe to Adelaide.
Hoskins and Dennis were due to take part in an event at the Tour Down Under in Adelaide this month.
“We are devastated by the news of Melissa Hoskins’ passing. “It is an extremely tragic situation in which a young mother and world cycling champion has been lost,” Tour Down Under organizers said in a statement on Monday. “Due to the circumstances, Rohan Dennis will no longer be taking part.”
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