Pro cyclist Carly Hibberd dies in training crash

Australian female pro cyclist, Carly Hibberd has been killed in a collision with a car during a training ride in northern Italy.

Carly Hibberd, 26, from Sherwood in Queensland died at the scene of the incident yesterday morning between Appiano Gentile and Lurato Caccivio, north of Milan, despite the arrival of medical services by helicopter.

She was training with Columbian rider Diego Tamayo when the incident occurred but he escaped unhurt.

Cycling Australia CEO Graham Fredericks said of Carly's death: "Everyone in the cycling community is feeling the loss and our thoughts and sympathy are with her family and her fiancé.

"Carly was following her cycling dream in Italy, doing what she loved to do and enjoying life. Sadly that dream has ended."

Carly was a former runner who came into cycling through a talent identification scheme. She was a scholarship holder at the Queensland Academy of Sport for two years and raced domestically with the MBCycles team from 2006 to 2008.

She won the women's Cycling Australia National Road Series in 2008 after earning points in all six rounds. She moved to Italy in 2009 to pursue a cycling career racing with the Michela Fanini-Record-Rox team up until this season when she joined Cassina Rizzardi A Style Fionucci.

Former team mate Liz Young who rode with Carly for two years in the MBCycles team said:."Carly was a bright, friendly, energetic young person.She had a great passion for her sport and for life in general.

"When she was around 19 she decided she wanted to become a professional cyclist and she pursued that dream with a great deal of passion. She dedicated her life to her sport and to her friends and family and was a very positive person to be around."

As news of the tragedy reached the pro cycling community the podium celebrations at yesterday’s Giro Donne were cancelled and from the Tour, Cadel Evans tweeted: “I'm very very sorry, I ride on that road too...”

Carly was due to be married to fiancé Cameron Rogers in three months' time and following her death the families have released a joint statement which says:

"We appreciate everyone's kind thoughts on the very sad news we received overnight, regarding Carly's sudden passing in Italy.

"Carly has been racing in Italy for the past three years and loving every minute of it. She was living her dream. It was her passion, along with her love for Cameron, to whom she was to be married in October this year.

"They spoke to each other constantly, not a day went by without numerous calls.Her love of cycling was fostered from a very early age by her parents, her father Mark and brother Luke, riding along with her and her mother Ros, was a constant support and gave her great encouragement.

"Carly's many friends throughout the world have been coming forward with messages of love for Carly, Cameron and their families.

"We very much appreciate these messages but do ask that everyone respects our privacy at this time to allows us time to come to terms with what has happened.
Special thanks go to the cycling community for their support and many, many messages."