Tragedy: Australian Road cycling team

I just learned that the australian road cycling team, planning to race in the “Thueringen Rundfahrt” in Germany, was involved in a severe accident with a new driver who lost control of her car and plowed into the training group.

Amy Gilett was killed, Alexis Rhodes and Louise Yaxley are in the ICU. Katie Brown, Lorian Graham and Kate Nichols are reported to be in stable condition.

I had the pleasure to meet a few of those fine ladies a while ago. I am in shock and utter disbelieve. My heart goes out to their loved ones and I really hope Alexis and Louise will pull through.

As the saying goes: There is nothing we can do about it, we have to accept the risk and all we can do is try to minimize it.

Another sad day…

I’m flattened. that’s like a storm on a sunny day.

those ladies are great riders. my sincerest hopes that those who are able will recover and ride again some day soon.

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200507/r53104_143115.jpgTwo cyclists are still in a critical condition after the accident which killed Amy Gillett. (ABC TV) http://www.abc.net.au/news/img/spacer.gif

Be careful out on the road these days. An 18 year old inexperienced driver hit the team. Most likely was changing a CD or BS on the cell phone. Doctors fear for critically injured cyclists

Doctors in Germany say they hold grave fears for the health of two Australian cyclists who were hit by a car earlier this week.

The accident killed 29-year-old cyclist Amy Gillett and injured her five team-mates.

Twenty-year-old South Australian Alexis Rhodes is critically ill with severe chest and spinal injuries.

Tasmanian Louise Yaxley, 23, is also in a critical condition, and has had more surgery on wounds affecting both her arms and legs.

Intensive care specialist Gernot Marx warns the condition of the two women could deteriorate.

“These two girls have very complex injuries. The nature of these complex injuries is that there can be complications in due course,” he said.

“It is very difficult to predict how long they will stay in the unit. It still can develop into a life-threatening situation. That’s the nature of intensive care.”

The prognosis for the other three cyclists - Lorian Graham, Katie Brown and Katie Nichols - is promising.

Brisbane-born Graham has undergone knee surgery but doctors are still assessing her fractured collar-bone.

However Brown and Nichols are progressing well and could be released from hospital in two weeks.

Nichols is up and about and the two are now sharing a room. Dr Marx says that has lifted their spirits.

“They were very happy when the two Kates met on the ICU, this was a very heartbreaking moment so it was very important that they could stay together,” Dr Marx said.

Doctors say both Brown and Nichols should eventually be able to get back on their bikes.

All five injured cyclists are now in the same hospital. Mental scars

Beyond the physical injuries, doctors know the survivors of the accident will live with a terrible mental trauma.

Two psychologists from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) have arrived in Germany. AIS head Peter Fricker says they have a huge job ahead.

“There is no set system for these things but we anticipate 12 to 24 months of working with these kids,” he said.

That is thought to be the main injury of the girl who was driving the car, an 18-year-old who had just started to drive.

“As far as I am able to declare she has had no major injuries, besides the heavy traumatisation of her mind I guess,” Paramedic Raik Schafer said. Family

Adelaide-based coach John Murray says the parents of Alexis Rhodes have seen their daughter for the first time and are pleased with the treatment Alexis is receiving.

“Alex is stable and being very well looked after in a very modern hospital,” he said.

"She’s been transferred from her previous hospital to the same hospital as the other girls.

"That’s just a logistics thing so that all the parents are staying at the same hotel and they’ve got access to the same hospital.

“Her mother was very positive about everything so I think that was a big plus.”