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Abe Maddison

'Personal reasons': Oly cyclist admits breaching bond

Rohan Dennis will be able to spend Christmas with his family after his case was adjourned to 2027. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

Olympic medalist Rohan Dennis has admitted breaching a good behaviour bond that carries a 17-month jail term, but will remain free to spend Christmas with his family. 

The suspended sentence and a five-year driving ban were imposed in 2025 after the retired cyclist, 36, entered a guilty plea over the events leading up to the death of his wife, fellow champion cyclist Melissa Hoskins.

He admitted to an aggravated charge of creating a likelihood of harm after prosecutors dropped charges of dangerous driving causing death and driving without due care.

woman smiles with silver medal around neck
Melissa Hoskins, pictured in 2012, won eight world championship medals on the track and the road. (Joe Castro/AAP PHOTOS)

Ms Hoskins, a two-time Olympic cyclist, was struck by a car driven by Dennis outside the couple's Medindie home in Adelaide's inner-north in December 2023.

The 32-year-old suffered serious injuries and died at Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Dennis was caught driving while disqualified with two children as passengers on June 11.

That offence - and the associated offence of breach of bond - landed him before Judge Ian Press, the same South Australian District Court judge who sentenced him in May 2025.

man walks from court building with media following
Rohan Dennis has been in and out of court since his wife's death in 2023. (Michael Errey/AAP PHOTOS)

Judge Press - who had warned Dennis there was a “real expectation” he would be jailed if he breached the bond - recused himself from hearing the case after an application from Dennis’s lawyers.

Appearing before a new judge in the South Australian District Court on Friday, Dennis admitted breaching the good behaviour bond.

He previously pleaded guilty in Adelaide Magistrates Court to driving while disqualified, an offence which carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison.

Dennis's lawyer David Edwardson KC asked Judge Emily Telfer to order a supervision compliance report.

man in yellow Tour de France jersey
Rohan Dennis was at the top of the sport before he and his late wife settled in Adelaide. (AP PHOTO)

In consultations on when the matters would return to court, Mr Edwardson said that “the reality is, it would have to go into the New Year”.

“And at one level, for obviously personal reasons, you might find that that would be probably a good thing,” he said.

Judge Telfer ordered the supervision compliance report and adjourned to February 1, when submissions will be heard.

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