Australian cyclist Dennis admits driving while disqualified

Australian former world champion cyclist Rohan Dennis admitted on Friday to driving while disqualified over a 2023 road incident in the lead-up to his wife's accidental death.

Dennis was given a 17-month suspended jail sentence last year for driving in a way "likely to cause harm" in December 2023.

Moments later in the same 2023 road incident, Dennis' car struck and killed his wife, fellow Olympian Melissa Hoskins.

Dennis was not found criminally responsible for Hoskins' death, but was banned from driving for five years.

At Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday, Dennis pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified or suspended on June 11 this year, according to a court document provided to AFP.

The prosecution intends to pursue him for breach of a District Court good behaviour bond, and the case was adjourned to September 4 for arraignment, the court record said.

Dennis, an Olympic medallist in 2012 and 2021, had admitted in 2024 to driving in a way likely to cause harm.

At last year's sentencing, the court heard Dennis drove away to calm down after an argument with his wife over house renovations.

She jumped onto the car bonnet, but Dennis carried on slowly driving for up to 10 seconds -- "an inherently risky and dangerous act", the judge said.

Hoskins got off but then held on to the car as her husband drove away. She fell and was killed, the court heard.

Prosecutors accepted that Dennis was unaware of the fatal accident occurring.

Dennis was a team pursuit silver medallist at the 2012 London Olympics and a time-trial bronze medallist at the Covid-hit 2021 Games in Tokyo.

Track cyclist Hoskins represented Australia at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, but did not win a medal.

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© Agence France-Presse