Melissa Hoskins has been remembered with a minute’s silence before the start of the women’s road race at the Australian road cycling championships.

Riders were emotional on the start line at Buninyong, near Ballarat, on Sunday morning as the 32-year-old mother of two was honoured a week after her death.

Hoskins, a popular figure in the sport, was a two-time Olympian and world champion.

Kate Bates, also a former Olympic cyclist and now a commentator in the sport, paid tribute to Hoskins.

“Mel was a beacon of strength, determination and bravery. Her vibrant spirit and resilience inspired everyone around her,” Bates said.

“Mel was a mother, a daughter, a sister, a very much-loved friend and beyond this she was an Olympian, a world beater and one of the best athletes Australian cycling … will ever see.

“As we stand here on the cusp of this race, let us take a moment of silence to remember Mel.

“Let her unyielding spirit inspire us to push forward and to strive for excellence, and to cherish every moment of this race and of our lives.”

The women’s Tour Down Under will also remember Hoskins with a minute’s silence before the start of the first stage on January 12 at Hahndorf, in the Adelaide Hills.

“It’s a really, really hard situation and we feel for everybody involved,” said women’s Tour race director Annette Edmondson, who was a national teammate of Hoskins on the track in the team pursuit.

“There will be moments and it will be tough at times.”

Hoskins died in Adelaide from injuries suffered in a traffic incident.

Her husband, two-time world road cycling champion and Olympic medallist Rohan Dennis, faces several driving-related charges over Hoskins’ death.