World champion cyclist Rohan Dennis (right) has been charged over the New Year's Eve death of his wife Melissa Hoskins (left), also a world champion rider. Photo: Instagram / Rohan Dennis
The international cycling community is in shock after the death of world champion rider Melissa Hoskins in Adelaide.
The 32-year-old's husband, fellow former star cyclist Rohan Dennis, has been charged over the death - with South Australian Police alleging he was driving a car which hit and killed Melissa.
Dennis, a two-time world champion and stage winner in the 2015 Tour de France, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and endangering life.
He was released on bail to face the Adelaide Magistrates Court again in March.
The nation's top cycling body, AusCycling, described Melissa Hoskins' death as a "tragic incident", while CPA Women - a body representing professional female riders - said it was "shocked".
"We send our thoughts to those who love her, starting with her children, and were lucky enough to ride with her during an all too short life," CPA Women posted on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Cycling champion Anna Meares is among those to have led tributes to Hoskins, posting a message of grief and condolence on Instagram.
"I have a very heavy heart," Meares wrote.
"My thoughts are with their children, family and fellow friends. This is a very difficult and tragic time."
Among the responses to the post was one from fellow former Olympian Leisel Jones, who said she was "thinking of you during this time of grieving".
On its social media accounts, Hoskins' former team GreenEDGE (now known as Team Jayco-AlUla) also expressed its devastation.
"Our thoughts are with her family and friends and the whole cycling community at this deeply saddening time," it stated.
"She will never be forgotten."
Australian cycling commentator Mike Tomalaris said the death was "so sad".
"A disaster. Difficult to comprehend. Heartbreaking," Tomalaris posted on social media.
Victim a former track and road cycling star
Members of the Australia's team, (from L) Annette Edmondson, Ashlee Ankudinoff, Amy Cure and Melissa Hoskins after winning the Women's Team pursuit Final at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, on 19 February, 2015. Photo: Eric Feferberg / AFP
Hoskins, originally from Perth, and Dennis married in 2018 and had two children, with the family living in Adelaide.
Just days before Hoskins' death, Dennis posted an image on Instagram showing the pair celebrating Christmas with their children.
Hoskins was a renowned road and track cyclist, who represented Australia at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and won gold in the women's team pursuit at the 2015 world championships.
At the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, she was involved in a serious crash before the competition - but returned to the track just days later.
Dennis, who is 33, won medals at both the 2012 and 2020 Olympics, the 2015 Tour Down Under, six world championship golds across both track and road riding.
He only retired from professional riding at the end of the 2023 season.
- This story was first published by the ABC
