Australian Rohan Dennis, double world time trial champion in 2018 and 2019, was arrested in Adelaide and charged with “manslaughter by reckless driving and endangering the lives of others” after the death from his wife Melissa Hoskins, Australian media reported Monday.
Melissa Hoskins, 32, a former Australian road racer who specialized in road time trials and team track pursuits, died in hospital after being struck by a vehicle and suffering “serious injuries” on Saturday evening , indicated the police, who specified that “the driver is known to the woman”, without confirming his name.
According to Australian media, Melissa Hoskins was hit by a pick-up vehicle driven by Rohan Dennis, 33.
The Australian, who announced his retirement a year ago and was still under contract with Jumbo-Visma until the end of 2023, was released on bail and is expected to appear in March 2024.
In addition to his double world title in the time trial, Dennis was also twice world team champion in this exercise (2014 and 2015) and individual bronze medalist at the 2020 Olympic Games. He also won a stage of the Tour de France in 2015, as well as a stage at the Giro and two at the Vuelta in recent years.
A track specialist in his early days, he also won two team pursuit world championship titles in 2010 and 2011, as well as a silver medal in this specialty at the 2012 Olympics.
The International Association of Professional Women Cyclists said it was “shocked” to learn of the death of Melissa Hoskins.
“We send our thoughts to those who love her, starting with her children, and who were lucky enough to ride with her during a life that was too short,” the CPA Women association said on social media.
Hoskins ended her career in 2017 and married Rohan Dennis in 2018 with whom she had two children.
She was part of the Australian team that won the team pursuit event at the track cycling world championships in France in 2015. She also represented Australia at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.