A Victorian woman has been charged with dangerous driving causing death, careless driving and using a phone while driving over the death of professional cyclist Jason Lowndes.

The 23-year-old was hit from behind by a passing car while on a training ride at Mandurang, near Bendigo in central Victoria, in December last year.

Billie Rodda, 20 from Kangaroo Flat, was charged today and released on bail.

She will return to court in Bendigo on August 22.

Lowndes had competed internationally since 2015 and had signed with UK-based team JTL Condor for the 2018 season.

He had previously raced with Israel Cycling Academy.

His death again raised the issue of legalising minimum overtaking distances between cyclists and cars in Victoria.

In March 2017, the Andrews Government rejected a recommendation to introduce a mandatory one-and-a-half-metre gap for vehicles when passing cyclists.

Most other states have introduced, or are trialling, minimum passing distance laws.