A moment of silence was observed in honor of Melissa Hoskins prior to the commencement of the Australian road cycling championships’ women’s road race.

On Sunday morning, riders gathered at Buninyong near Ballarat, feeling emotional as they honored the late 32-year-old mother of two. Hoskins, a well-liked athlete in the cycling world, had been both an Olympian and a world champion.

Kate Bates, also a former Olympic cyclist and now a commentator in the sport, paid tribute to Hoskins. “Mel was a beacon of strength, determination and bravery. Her vibrant spirit and resilience inspired everyone around her,” Bates said.

Mel was not only a mother, daughter, and sister, but also a beloved friend. She was not just an Olympian, but also a world-class athlete and one of the top competitors in Australian cycling history.

As we prepare for this race, let us pause and pay tribute to Mel. May her unwavering determination motivate us to keep moving forward and to aim for greatness, as well as to appreciate every moment of this race and our lives.

Hoskins passed away at a hospital after being hit by a car on Saturday 30 December in the inner north area of Adelaide. Her spouse, Rohan Dennis, who is an Olympic medalist and two-time world champion in cycling, has been accused of causing her death by driving recklessly, driving without proper care, and putting her life at risk. He has been granted bail and will appear in court in March.

The first stage of the women’s Tour Down Under on January 12th in Hahndorf, Adelaide Hills will begin with a minute of silence in memory of Hoskins.

“It is a very difficult situation and our hearts go out to everyone involved,” stated Annette Edmondson, the race director for the women’s Tour. She was previously a teammate of Hoskins in the national team for track cycling. “There will be challenging moments ahead.”

Ruby Roseman-Gannon, a cyclist from Victoria, claimed victory in the 104.4km race, earning her first championship title. This achievement came just two days after she also won the Australian criterium title for the first time. Lauretta Hanson of Lidl-Trek came in second place and Roseman-Gannon’s teammate Alex Manly finished third.

Source: theguardian.com