Rhodes and Nichols make successful comeback

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Less than six months after their training accident in Germany which took the life of Amy Gillett, AIS teammates Alexis Rhodes and Kate Nichols made a great comeback to competitive racing yesterday at the first race of the Bay Classic Series in Williamstown, Victoria. Rhodes took sixth place after being amongst the leaders in the closing laps, following an attack which helped make the final selection.

Showing just how strong her powers of recovery are, Rhodes was able to mix it up with the likes of Olivia Gollan, Oenone Wood and eventual winner Katie Mactier, indicating she is far from finished in the sport after spending a week in a coma following the July 19 crash. Sydney rider Nichols admitted to being somewhat nervous before the racing but was just happy to be in Williamstown as a competitor.

AIS teammate Katie Brown was also present, supporting boyfriend Mark Renshaw as he rode to fourth place in the men's event. She isn't yet able to compete, but a racing comeback is surely not far away, and is hopeful she can participate in Saturday's charity ride for the Amy Gillett Foundation. Gillett's husband, Simon, was also a guest at the first day of the Bay Classic series, saying that Amy's spirit would surely have been with the riders, and is looking forward to the expected 2000 riders taking part in 'Amy's Ride' in the Geelong Botanical Gardens on January 7.