Australian pair remain unconscious in Germany

Australian cyclist Alexis Rhodes is in a medically-induced coma in a German hospital with seven broken vertebrae following the training crash that claimed the life of team-mate Amy Gillett, officials said yesterday.

Team-mate Louise Yaxley is also unconscious with a small blood clot in her brain, Cycling Australia (CA) said in a statement, though it is not causing problems and is being monitored by medical staff.

Gillett, 29, was killed as she trained with the Australian road race team near the town of Zeulenroda, about 80km (50 miles) south of Leipzig, on Monday.

Katie Brown, Lorian Graham and Kate Nichols were also injured when an 18-year-old driver veered across the road and struck them as they prepared for the Tour of Thuringen.

"Louise and Alexis are the most critically injured but both are very fit and strong and we have reason to be optimistic about their recovery," Australian Institute of Sport director Peter Fricker said in the statement.

Both are expected to remain in hospital for between four and six weeks.

Family members and other Australian cyclists based in Europe have begun visiting the hospital.