Australia cyclists pay tribute to Melissa Hoskins at national championships

Melissa Hoskins’ death has shattered Australian cycling with top riders Grace Brown and Brodie Chapman expressing their grief over the tragedy.

A minute’s silence will be held on Sunday morning before the start of the elite women’s road race at the Australian championships.

Brown won the time trial at the national road championships and Chapman was second on Thursday, the first elite cycling event held in Australia since Hoskins’ death on the weekend.

“It’s been a really dark week,” Brown said after her fourth time trial national crown.

“The cycling community is struggling to comprehend it really.

“Personally, I’m just super-sad for Mel and her family, really thinking of them. It’s just a shadow over the summer of cycling.”

Chapman agreed with Brown about remembering Hoskins on Sunday, saying it is “100% necessary.”

“It’s an absolute tragedy and my heart goes out to Mel’s family – with all my heart. It’s devastating,” said Chapman.

Hoskins’ husband, Olympic medallist and former cycling world time trial champion Rohan Dennis, faces charges over her death in Adelaide.

Hoskins was a two-time Olympian on the track and a member of the squad that won the 2015 team pursuit world championship.

Brown overcame a lower back injury to win the 28.6km elite women’s time trial in 40 minutes 51.30 seconds.

Chapman showed improvement in the discipline, finishing only 6.89 seconds behind Brown for the silver medal and Georgie Howe was more than 30 seconds further back in third.

Luke Plapp took out the 37.5km men’s event in 46:19.54, leading home a quadrella for Australian team Jayco-Alula.

Teammate Chris Harper was more than 30 seconds behind in second, ahead of team veteran Michael Hepburn, with Kelland O’Brien fourth.