According to reports from multiple Australian media outlets, recently retired pro cyclist Rohan Dennis has been charged in connection with the death of his wife Melissa Dennis, née Hoskins, herself a former pro.
Melissa Dennis was reportedly hit by a driver in Adelaide, Australia, on the night of December 30 and died from her injuries in the hospital the following morning. Rohan Dennis is accused of having hit her with a ute, also known as a pickup truck in other parts of the world.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Dennis was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and endangering life. Dennis has been released on bail and is expected to face court in March.
Melissa Dennis, who was 32, was successful on both the road and the track, a world champion in the team pursuit, a multiple-time Olympian, and winner of the Tour of Chongming Island in 2012. She retired at the end of 2017, marrying Rohan Dennis the following year. The couple has two children.
Rohan Dennis, 33, is a two-time world champion in the individual time trial. He spent the past two seasons with Jumbo-Visma, winning a stage at the 2023 Tour Down Under, and retired at the end of the year after a decade in the pro peloton.
Escape Collective reached out to South Australian Police for comment, with a media contact declining to confirm the names of victims or suspects involved. This is a developing story and may be updated as further details emerge.