WomensCycling.net

South Australian Alexis Rhodes, 20, and Tasmanian Louise Yaxley, 23, have arrived home in Australia to continue their recovery in the wake of last month's tragic road accident in Germany.

The pair, along with Sydney's Kate Nichols, 20 and Katie Brown, 22, and Queenslander Lorian Graham, 27, were injured when a teenage female driver lost control of her vehicle, crossed to the other side of the road and ploughed into the six member Australian women's team. Champion cyclist and Olympic rower, Amy Gillett (nee Safe), 29, was killed instantly and the other five riders admitted to hospital with varying injuries. The team was training for the Thüringen Tour due to start the next day.

Rhodes touched down at Adelaide International Airport this morning and was transferred by ambulance to her home. She was accompanied on the flight by her mother Jenny Rhodes and a doctor who monitored her condition throughout the trip.

"She is obviously a bit tired but she handled the flight really well and managed to get some sleep on the plane," said Jenny Rhodes. "I can't stress enough how great Qantas was from the ground staff to the pilots. The way they looked after us was incredible.

"Alexis doesn't want to speak with the media yet as she is focussed on her recovery," said Mrs Rhodes. Rhodes was resting at home after the flight. Doctors this week will determine a schedule for her continuing treatment and rehabilitation.

A schedule for Yaxley will also be put in place this week after she arrived home in Launceston this morning. Yaxley was also accompanied by a medical escort as well as her boyfriend Mark Padget and her mother Annette. Her trip was also incident free.

Yaxley and Rhodes were the last two injured riders to return to Australia.

Amy's family and Cycling Australia have established the Amy Gillett-Safe Cycling Foundation to honour her memory. The Foundation will assist with the recovery of her injured team mates, fund a sporting and academic scholarship program for promising female cyclists and promote road safety awareness amongst cyclists and motorists.

People wishing to donate to the Amy Gillett-Safe Foundation should visit the Cycling Australia website at www.cycling.org.au and follow the links from the home page.

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