Alexis Rhodes conscious and chirpy; Amy Gillett-Safe Foundation launched

Less than one week after the tragic accident in Germany that took the life of Australian cyclist Amy Gillett and put her five team-mates into hospital comes news that one of the most seriously injured riders, Alexis Rhodes, 20, is now conscious and talking.

Due to the severity of their injuries, both Rhodes and Louise Yaxley, 23, were kept heavily sedated by specialists at the German major trauma facility in Jena. Rhodes was the remaining cyclist to be taken off heavy sedation by specialists after Louise Yaxley was also allowed to wake on Saturday.

Their improving condition and speed of recovery has surprised doctors at the German hospital, said to be one of the country's finest road trauma facilities and described as "being like a five-star hotel".

Gillett was at Sydney Airport en-route from Germany to Ballarat, Victoria, to bring his wife's body home to Australia.

To provide support for the rehabilitation of Amy's five injured team-mates;
To fund and administer a scholarship program for young women cyclists to support their sporting and academic endeavours;
To promote road safety awareness amongst cyclists and motorists.

"Amy was an amazing woman with a love of life, sport and education," Gillett said. "This Foundation will honour her memory by supporting the dedication, talent and commitment of young women who will follow in her footsteps.

"Her love of life and all it could offer stand as an example worth following," he said.

It's understood that the Australian Federal Government has also offered to cover additional expenses not covered by insurance for the rehabilitation of the five injured riders.

Full details of the Amy Gillett-Safe Cycling Foundation will be finalised in coming days, but Cycling Australia has commenced the fund with a AU$5000 donation. To pledge donations, interested persons can email to acf.info@cycling.org.au with "Foundation'" in the subject line, or call Sydney on 61 (0) 2 9644 3002. Cycling Australia will also have a donation facility set up on its web site in coming days.

"She has opened her eyes and is now talking," said Prof Fricker. "Doctors had planned to keep the breathing tube in a little longer because she has significant bruising and damage to her left lung but Alexis requested they take it out and after checking her lung function they agreed to her request.

"She'll need to be carefully managed in terms of pain medication because she has broken ribs and fractured bones in her back."

"She is still pretty drowsy but she's making sense which is good news," said Prof Fricker. "She still has a way to go and her injuries will require more surgery which she'll probably have sometime next week."

"Doctors are happy that both girls have now taken the next step in their recovery and we've been very encouraged by that," said Prof Fricker.

Rhodes' close friend, Australian professional cyclist (Van Bemmelen - AA Drink) and Athens Olympian, Kate Bates, is staying with a German cycling friend who lives in Jena so she can be close to Alexis and help her with her recovery.

"I've been in talking with her and she's just awesome," said Bates. "Every day it's a little bit more good news and it's positive news for both Alexis and Louise who are recovering a lot quicker than the doctors imagined they would. But they're Aussie girls and we breed them tough.

"Al (Alexis) has a sexy, husky voice right now because of the tube being in but she always wanted a voice like that," joked Bates.

The mood among the Australian contingent is now very positive. "I'm going to base myself here until Al gets out of hospital because she's going to be become pretty bored pretty quickly now that she's awake and alert."

Sydney's Kate Nichols, 20, had been planning a brief escape from hospital to go to see Australian band 'The Cat Empire' in concert on Sunday night in Jena but the scheduled start time of midnight was deemed to be a little too late and doctors advised against it. Nichols is expected to fly home next weekend.

The funeral for Amy Safe followed by a memorial service will be held next Friday July 29, in Ballarat. A second memorial service will be held at Adelaide's Super-Drome on Friday August 5.

Cyclingnews has now published four pages of tributes from cyclists and supporters from around the world who've been affected by this tragedy. Please see: Amy Gillett: Tributes, 1976-2005, Part 1, and Part 2, Part 3 (posted July 21) and Part 4 (posted July 22).

Cycling Australia has also established an email link for people who wish to send condolence messages to the family of Amy Gillett or to pass on their thoughts and wishes to those injured. Go to Cycling Australia's web site and follow the link on the home page.