Amy Gillett, one of Australia’s top women cyclists, died and five of her teammates were injured in a training accident in Germany, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported citing the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Gillett, 29, was killed yesterday when a car hit six members of the Australian Institute of Sport’s women’s road cycling team on a training ride near Zeulenroda, 50 miles south of Leipzig, the ABC said. Three other members of the team were in critical condition after being taken to hospital, the ABC said, citing the cyclingnews.com Web site.
The group had been riding the course of the opening stage of the Thueringen-Rundfahrt road race in southern Germany which was due to start today, the ABC said. The first stage has been canceled.
my God–how horrific…this is absolutely terrible news. i cannot imagine what her friends and family feel…truly horrible, horrible news. and to the others that are terribly injured, who have lost a dear friend…words cannot say enough. this is a tragedy.
Based on information made available, the latest information on the team is as follows:
Alexis Rhodes - still in the intensive care unit and her condition is described as “critical”. Alexis is understood to have multiple fractures in the thoracic region (the part of the trunk between the neck and the abdomen);
Lousie Yaxley - now stabilised, but her condition is still considered “serious” (which is one level down from “critical”);
Katie Brown - at first it was thought Katie may lose a leg, but Fredericks said surgery on her leg was considered successful. In “serious” condition and in recovery after sustaining multiple fractures;
Lorian Graham - in a “satisfactory” condition. Understood to have both collarbones broken, plus broken hands, as well as knee and leg injuries;
Katie Nichols - in a “satisfactory” condition. Had severe deep tissue damage including torn tendons, but again, surgery was considered successful.
Another very sad day for cycling. As Tom D said a couple of months back, it really is a hazardous sport we indulge in. Be careful when you saddle up people.
I used to live about 60 miles west of where this happened, in Ilmenau. Even though they are in Saxiona and I was in the Thuringian Forest, I doubt conditions differ too much. Anyway, the area is simply superb for cycling, hilly, wooded, very nice, one of the prime spots for hiking, mountainbiking and cx skiing in Germany. Unfortunately what they are lacking is roadbikefriendly roads. No bike paths (ok, no news for all you Americans), curvy roads built into the hills and the roads are not very wide in places, so that can cause problems. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, but whenever i rode there I chose the lesser frequented roads.
Horrible news - Amy was such a wonderful person and a great cyclist, national level rower and dedicated wife.
This has devestated the Australian women’s cycling squad and virtually wiped it out in one foul swoop.
The driver of the car - 18 years of age - had only had a licence for a few weeks and clipped a curb - she has also been seriously injured and will be charged with negligent driving causing death and injury
