Italian cyclist Rebellin dies after being hit by truck: reports

Rebellin, who also won an individual stage in the 1996 Giro d’Italia, was killed instantly in the incident, which occurred at Montebello Vicentino shortly before midday.

FILE PHOTO: Rebellin, who was ordered to return his road race silver medal from the 2008 Olympics in Beijing after a retroactive doping test, retired earlier this year after three decades in professional cycling. | Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Italian cyclist Davide Rebellin, who won the Amstel Gold Race, La Fleche Wallonne and Liege–Bastogne–Liege in a stellar 2004 season, has died aged 51 after being hit by a truck while training near Vicenza, local media reported on Wednesday.

Rebellin, who also won an individual stage in the 1996 Giro d’Italia, was killed instantly in the incident, which occurred at Montebello Vicentino shortly before midday, local newspaper Il Gazzettino reported.

The report added that the vehicle did not stop at the scene and that police were looking for it and the driver.

Rebellin, who was ordered to return his road race silver medal from the 2008 Beijing Olympics after a retroactive doping test, retired earlier this year after three decades in professional cycling.