Former cyclist Dennis is said to have killed his wife: ‘A hothead who sometimes went crazy’

Exactly what happened on Saturday evening in Medindie, an upmarket suburb of Adelaide, is under investigation. According to local media, it all could have gone like this: The couple argued, he wanted to drive away in his pickup, she tried to prevent that, jumped on the hood, fell and was run over. The wording of the complaint: “The 33-year-old man, an acquaintance of the woman, is charged with dangerous driving, careless driving and endangering the lives of others resulting in death.”

“A giver with a big heart”

Melissa Dennis was a mother of two and described herself on social media as “lover of the family” and “wife and mother.” She and Rohan married in 2018. A few hours before the family accident, her husband posted a family photo in front of a Christmas tree – her son and daughter were also beaming. “Merry Christmas,” it said.

After Melissa’s death, her father said: “We haven’t just lost a daughter and a sister. The children have lost their mother, a free spirit, a giver with a big heart, patience and zest for life.” Rohan Dennis himself has not commented on the accident – ​​and he hardly will until the hearing.

Four gold World Championship medals in time trial

But who is this man who, like so many Australian cyclists, started his career on the track? From a sporting point of view, Dennis is one of the best time trial riders in history. He won World Championship gold on the road four times: twice in the team time trial (2014 and 2015) and twice in the individual time trial (2018 and 2019).

He won stages in all three Grand Tours (Giro, Tour de France and Vuelta), took Olympic bronze in 2021 and took two victories in the Tour of Switzerland. Last February, Dennis announced his retirement; Since New Year’s, he is officially no longer a professional.

Always friction

Dennis also made negative headlines. Silvan Dillier (33) from Aargau won two world titles in the team time trial with BMC. He praises Dennis, but says: “I also knew his very impulsive character. Dealing with that was a challenge for many.”

In fact, Dennis continued to argue, especially with his team bosses. His task in the 2019 Tour de France, when he suddenly stepped off the bike during the 12th stage, will never be forgotten. Dennis didn’t fall or get sick, he just didn’t want to anymore. It was later revealed that he was dissatisfied with the bike that his Bahrai-Merida team had made available to him.

Outbreak from the Corona bubble

Dennis is sometimes described as manic-depressive. Victor Campenaerts (32, Be), one of his biggest competitors, once said: “Rohan was the only one in the entire peloton who refused to talk to me.”

In April 2020, when there were strict restrictions in his adopted home of Spain due to Corona, Dennis posted a photo of a joyride in the car and wrote: “Covid-19 and the quarantine can kiss my ass!” The result? A shit storm. Dennis has deleted his entire Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Dennis has worked intensively with a psychologist for a long time – apparently to suppress negative thoughts. In recent years he seemed to have become calmer and more content.

“I can’t imagine that”

Ex-professional cyclist Martin Elmiger (45) was his teammate in 2017. Asked about that time, he says: “Rohan had an incredible talent in time trialling, but he was also a hothead who sometimes went crazy – not in a bad way, but out of emotions.” He himself has not had any bad experiences with him. “To me he was a nice, cool guy.”

Like many others, Elmiger is shocked by the news from Australia. “I cannot imagine that he deliberately killed his wife. Even though it sounds stupid, I hope everything turns out to be a tragic incident.”