Ex-world champion bike owner charged with inflicting spouse’s loss of life admits lesser cost
Rohan Dennis, a former Australian World Championship cyclist, was charged with dangerous driving causing death after his wife, Melissa Hoskins, was killed in a car crash last December
Former cycling world champion Rohan Dennis has admitted to a lesser charge over his wife’s death.
Melissa Hoskins, a fellow Olympian cyclist, was killed after a car accident outside their home in Adelaide in December 2023. Dennis was initially charged with dangerous driving causing death and an aggravated charge of driving without due care.
But he has now admitted to one aggravated count of creating the likelihood of harm. Dennis’ lawyer told the court: “There was no intention of Mr Dennis to harm his wife and this charge does not charge him with responsibility for her death.”
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Dennis, 34, will now be sentenced at a later date. Hoskins, 32, was a member of the Australian track cycling team pursuit team that finished in fourth place at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Dennis had retired from cycling in the autumn of 2023 after a glittering career that saw him win stages at all three Grand Tours: the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana.
He would also win World Championship titles on the road and on the track as well as claiming gold in the Men’s Individual Time Trial at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Dennis married Hoskins in 2018, having both represented their country at the London 2012 Olympics. Dennis would win a silver medal in the team pursuit that summer, while Hoskins missed out on a medal in the same event by just 0.18 seconds.
Hoskins, would also win gold in the Women’s Team Pursuit at the 2015 World Championships and represent Australia at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Brazil.
“Thank you @melissamdennis for supporting me throughout my entire professional career, all while raising two of the best kids I could ever ask for,” Dennis said announcing his retirement.
“Cycling, you have given me a lot and I’ll be forever grateful. It is still a long season ahead however it will definitely be my last as a professional.”
