The tight-knit cycling community in Tasmania, Australia, is in shock after the death of one of its most promising young riders. Samantha Hellyer, a 15 year old rider with the City of Launceston Cycling Club, died due to injuries sustained from a collision with a motor vehicle in the Devon 80, a road race held on Saturday, February 7, just outside the city of Devonport.

Hellyer was competing in the Under 17 category and was following the main field as it made a sharp left turn on its way to the finish. Eyewitness reports say a semi-trailer was traveling in the opposite direction on the narrow road and collided with another vehicle which in turn struck the rider. It's understood that police are investigating the fatality, but no charges have been laid.

"Everyone here is in shock, we're absolutely devastated," said Rod Morris, one of the State's leading cycling officials and correspondents. Morris said the race was held on quiet roads away from major highways near the town of Thirlstane, about 10 kilometres from Devonport. All other races in the Devon 80, a B-class open road race organised by the Mersey Valley Devonport Cycling Club, were abandoned immediately after the accident.

Hellyer was relatively new to the sport and had been selected through the Tasmanian Institute of Sport (TIS) talent identification program and under the guidance of her coach, Ron 'Tubby' Bryan, she had progressed quickly to become one of the State's leading junior riders. Hellyer won three state titles in the Tasmanian track championships in 2003, as well as medals at the national level and was considered to be a rider of the future. Indeed, at the 2003 Launceston Christmas Carnival, the teenager also won the women's wheelrace.

"There's no question she was a very good talent," said Kevin Tabotta, the TIS head cycling coach. "Ron had done an awesome job of bringing her along in a very short time. I believe she certainly had the talent to have gone on in the sport," he said.

Contrasting with her success on the bike, Hellyer had also been a 'ward of the state', spending part of her life in an orphanage after being abandoned as a small child. However, she had joined a foster family and had developed a positive attitude towards her schooling and cycling.

The staff of Cyclingnews.com extends its deepest sympathies to Sam's friends, foster family and the Tasmanian cycling community.