SYDNEY - Australia's next generation of women road racers has suffered a terrible blow after six members of the team were struck by a car while training in Germany, the country's media said on Wednesday.
Amy Gillett was killed while team mates Louise Yaxley and Alexis Rhodes were seriously injured when an 18-year-old learner driver veered across the road and struck the riders on Monday.
Their team mates Katie Brown, Lorian Graham and Kate Nichols were also in hospital with fractures and abrasions but considered stable.
"They were Australia's next generation of road racers, preparing to enhance the country's growing reputation in cycling at the world championships in Madrid in September and at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne," said The Australian newspaper.
"But now one is dead, five are in hospital, the Australian Institute of Sport cycling program is suspended indefinitely and Cycling Australia is counting the cost of potentially the biggest tragedy to have hit the sport in this country".
Cycling Australia president Mike Victor said it would take a some time for the sport to recover.
Biggest Tragedy
"It will take a long time to get over it," Victor told The Australian. "It's very devastating and potentially the biggest tragedy to have hit the sport in this country.
"We were counting on them to take over the mantle in the years to come."
The accident received widespread broadcast media coverage in Australia on Tuesday as the news became public, which was matched by the newspaper coverage on Wednesday.
Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper had a large picture of Gillett, a former Olympic rower who switched to cycling in 2000, alongside the headline "Their tragic last ride".
The Sydney Morning Herald also had a photo of Gillett and her five team mates on their front page with the headline "Cycling world ripped apart".
It also had a large photograph of the accident scene with police markings vividly displayed.
Melbourne's The Age newspaper also showed the aftermath of the accident scene, with ambulance personnel tending to the riders on stretchers under a headline of "Lives and dreams of gold shattered in the German countryside".
Gillett, who had said her ambition was to win gold in the individual time trial at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, lived near Ballarat in the state of Victoria.
The team had been preparing for the Tour of Thuringen when the crash occurred near the town of Zeulenroda, about 80 km (50 miles) south of Leipzig, at about 1540 GMT on Monday.
Feeds