Melissa Hoskins’ grieving family give emotional tribute after Olympian ‘run down’ by cyclist husband…as he breaks cover

THE grieving family of Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins have shared their emotional tribute following her death, allegedly at the hands of her husband.

Rohan Dennis, a former World Champion cyclist, has broken his silence after allegedly running Melissa over with a car on Saturday.

AlamyThe parents and sister of late Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins have shared an emotional tribute[/caption]

InstagramAustralian cyclist Rohan Dennis, pictured right, was allegedly behind the wheel of the pick-up truck that hit Melissa[/caption]

AlamyMelissa’s family remembered her as a ‘freewheeling spirit’[/caption]

The 32-year-old mum-of-two suffered serious injuries and was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, but died later that night.

Dennis was granted bail after being charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and endangering life. 

He is to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court again in March.

The cycling community poured tributes to the late mum and Olympian, with her family remembering her as a “freewheeling spirit”, The Guardian reports.

Melissa’s parents, Peter and Amanda, and sister, Jess, said on Tuesday words could not convey their grief and sadness.

“Myself, Amanda, Jess and families, are utterly devastated and still struggling to process what has happened,” they said in a joint statement.

“Not only have we lost a daughter and sister, her children have lost their mum, a freewheeling spirit, a giver with a big heart, patience and zest for life.

“She was the rock of their life and ours and we need to honour her memory so they can grow up knowing who she was, what she stood for and what she gave to everyone whose life she touched.

“The outpouring of sadness and support has overwhelmed us. In her short life Melissa has had so many positive touch points in and around the world.”

Melissa’s former Olympic teammate Amy Cure posted on social media that she was especially grateful for their recent time together.

“My rivalry, my teammate, writing our names in world record books, world championship victories, Olympic Games upsets, to celebrating retirements,” she wrote.

“You will be forever missed my sister.”

Another former teammate and pro-cyclist, Valentina Scandolara, posted on Instagram saying there were “no words for a tragedy of this magnitude”.

Dennis, a former Tour de France star, has now broken his silence and emerged from his Adelaide home for the first time since being charged over his Olympian wife’s death.

The father-of-two was seen speaking on his mobile phone while standing in the backyard of the family home at Medindie on Tuesday morning.

Later that afternoon, before walking out of the $2.45million mansion, Dennis pleaded for privacy and time for his two children to grieve for their mother, MailOnline reports.

Saying nothing, Dennis marched quickly from the house, wearing white shorts and a blue T-shirt and carrying a packed suitcase.

Just an hour earlier he had sent two friends out – a Spanish and a fellow Aussie – to make an impassioned plea on his behalf.

The pair begged the media to not film his children.

“They need privacy and they need to grieve,” the Spanish friend said.

“This is a terrible time for us.”

Dennis’s children could be heard allegedly laughing and then crying before they were driven from the house by the two friends, MailOnline reports.

The world champion cyclist was collected in a separate car some time later, begging his vehicle not be followed. 

Friends reportedly told The Adelaide Advertiser the couple had been planning to make some major life changes.

These included maybe opening their own vineyard in the Adelaide Hills.

The pair had only recently moved into their $2.45m home in Medindie just a week before Christmas, but were preparing for their post-retirement lives.

Dennis was granted bail after being charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and endangering lifeInstagram

AlamyMelissa, 32, was rushed to hospital in Adelaide but died later that night[/caption]