Davide Rebellin: Italian cyclist dies while training, aged 51

Davide Rebellin retired from nonrecreational cycling earlier this year

Italian cyclist Davide Rebellin has died aged 51 aft a collision with a motortruck portion grooming adjacent Vicenza connected Wednesday.

His vocation spanned 3 decades earlier helium retired earlier this year.

He besides won an idiosyncratic signifier successful the 1996 Giro d'Italia.

"This is an infinitely bittersweet time for each those who travel cycling," Tour de France main Christian Prudhomme said.

Lotto-Soudal wide manager John Lelangue added: "I conscionable can't judge it. He was with america Sunday nighttime astatine the Monte Carlo Criterium dinner.

Seven-time Tour de France idiosyncratic signifier victor Richard Virenque said: "He was a lovely, loyal idiosyncratic and we shared immoderate fantastic moments together."

Rebellin won metallic successful the men's roadworthy contention astatine the 2008 Beijing Olympics earlier being ordered to instrumentality it aft investigating affirmative for a banned substance.

He produced a affirmative trial for the blood-booster EPO Cera during a re-testing run aft the Games and was subsequently banned for 2 years.

Rebellin raced successful the little divisions until past twelvemonth and is remembered by his household arsenic idiosyncratic "who lived to thrust his bike".