CHAMPION RACER DAVIDE REBELLIN KILLED IN HIT-AND-RUN COLLISION

Champion pro racer Davide Rebellin was killed in a hit-and-run collision with a truck while on a training ride in the Montecchio area of Italy, as II Gazzetino reported. The driver fled the scene and is still being sought by authorities.

Rebellin, 51, retired this year from a decades-long racing career. His record-breaking 29 seasons began as a junior racer in 1988, with his first win in the team time trial at the UCI Junior Road World Championships coming the following year.

In 2004, he won the Amstel Gold Race, La Fleche Wallonne and Liège–Bastogne–Liège and cemented his reputation as a Classics racer to be reckoned with. Four years later, he won the silver medal in the road race at the 2008 Bejiing Olympics, which was stripped the following year after a positive retroactive doping test.

Rebellin finished his career with Italian team Work Service–Marchiol–Dynatek. It was the 14th team he raced for in an illustrious career. “At this very tragic moment, our thoughts go out to his family, friends and loved ones to whom I want to express, on behalf of the entire team, our sympathy and deepest condolences,” Work Service Cycling team Demetrio Iommi said.

Cyclist Alejandro Valverde tweeted: “My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Davide Rebellin, a professional colleague and rival for so many years.”

2022-11-30T21:49:27Z dg43tfdfdgfd