Heartbreaking detail in Rohan Dennis photo after cycling star charged over wife’s death

Rohan Dennis with Melissa Dennis and their children. Photo: Instagram, @rohandennis and Doug Pensinger/Getty Images.
Rohan Dennis with Melissa Dennis and their children. Photo: Instagram, @rohandennis and Doug Pensinger/Getty Images.Source: Supplied
Staff Writers from News.com.au

The final photo posted of Rohan Dennis and Olympian wife Melissa is breaking hearts after the cyclist was charged over her death.

The cycling world has been rocked by the devastating news Melissa Hoskins died in Adelaide on Saturday.

Detectives and Major Crash officers arrested Dennis and have charged the two-time cycling time trial world champion with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and endangering life.

Police allege Dennis was driving a ute that struck Hoskins just metres from out the front of their family home.

Rohan Dennis with Melissa Dennis and their children. Photo: Instagram, @rohandennis.Source: Supplied

Emergency services were called to the scene in the wealthy north Adelaide suburb of Medindie around 8pm on Saturday.

Hoskins, 32, was found with serious injuries and rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital.

She died from her injuries in hospital.

Dennis has been bailed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on March 13.

Hoskins and Dennis have two young children.

Rohan Dennis and Melissa Dennis in December. Photo: Instagram, @rohandennis.Source: Supplied

Rohan Dennis shared a photo of his children before Christmas. Photo: Instagram, @rohandennis.Source: Instagram

The final photo shared of the family on Dennis’ Instagram page has been flooded with messages from fans sharing their disbelief and devastation at the news.

The photo shared by Dennis on Boxing Day showed him smiling with Hoskins and their two children in front of a Christmas tree that still had unwrapped gifts underneath it.

Dennis in December also shared photos of him smiling with Hoskins and another one of their two children meeting Santa.

The 33-year-old also shared photos from the family’s holiday to Egypt in November.

Dennis won gold at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, having won bronze in the men’s individual time trial at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Rohan Dennis and wife Melissa. Picture: InstagramSource: Supplied

Rohan Dennis with Melissa Hoskins. Photo Naomi Jellicoe.Source: News Corp Australia

He announced his retirement earlier this year, thanking Hoskins in his message to fans.

“Thank you Melissa Dennis for supporting me throughout my entire professional career, all while raising two of the best kids I could ever ask for,” he posted.

The pair married in 2018, having celebrated their engagement in 2017.

A police statement surrounding the Medindie incident called for anyone with more information to contact Crime Stoppers.

“A woman has died and a man has been arrested following a crash at Medindie last night,” the police statement read.

Australia's Rohan Dennis celebrates winning gold with his wife Melissa Hoskins and their son during the Men's Elite Individual Time Trials. Photo by Tim Goode/PA Images via Getty Images.Source: Getty Images

Australia's Annette Edmondson celebrates with teammates Amy Cure and Melissa Hoskins after winning gold at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014. Photo: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy.Source: AAP

Rohan Dennis crowned world champion in 2019. Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images

“Just after 8pm on Saturday 30 December, police and emergency services were called to Avenel Gardens Road after reports that a woman had been hit by a car.

“A 32-year-old Medindie woman suffered serious injuries and was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment. Sadly, she died in hospital overnight.

“Major Crash officers attended the scene along with Detectives from Eastern District CIB to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“The driver is known to the woman. Following an investigation, a 33-year-old Medindie man has been arrested and charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and endangering life.”