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Italian cyclist Davide Rebellin killed instantly by truck whilst training. Driver traced to Germany after fleeing.

Tributes have poured in for Italian cyclist Davide Rebellin, who died aged 51 after he was hit by a truck during a training ride. The incident took place in Montebello Vicentino near Vicenza, Italy last Wednesday

Italian cyclist Davide Rebellin killed instantly by truck whilst training

51 year old Rebellin, who was from San Bonifacio, near Verona, had only recently ended his lengthy professional career at the Veneto Classic in front of his adoring fans.

He became the first rider to win the Ardennes Classics treble in a highlight 2004 season, with victory in the Amstel Gold Race, La Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

He also won Tirreno-Adriatico (2001) and Paris-Nice (2008), along with a stage of the Giro d’Italia in 1996, wearing the maglia rosa for six stages and placing 6th overall in the general classification.

Throughout his career, Rebellin claimed 61 victories.

Rebellin won silver in the men's road race at the 2008 Beijing Olympics before being ordered to return it after testing positive for a banned substance.

He produced a positive test for the blood-booster EPO Cera during a re-testing campaign after the Games and was subsequently banned for two years.

Rebellin raced in the lower divisions until last year and is remembered by his family as someone "who lived to ride his bike".

His career spanned three decades before he retired earlier this year.

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

Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Rest in peace Davide.

Motorist who allegedly killed Davide Rebellin in hit-and run tracked down in Germany

According to a report in Italian paper Il Gazzettino the motorist knew he had hit the cyclist, but left the scene anyway.

The article said several witnesses saw the driver get out of his truck and look at Rebellin, before quickly getting back in the cab and taking off.

It also appears like this is not the driver’s first offense. The German driver pleaded guilty to a non-fatal hit-and-run incident in 2001, and in 2014 was charged for drinking and driving.

Giuseppe Moscati, of the local police, said the authorities worked quickly to figure out where the German driver fled. They worked with other police forces to locate him.

“We don’t know if that will help to relieve the pain that the local and wider Italian community is feeling, but I want to thank everybody who helped the police in their investigation.”

Italian cyclist Davide Rebellin killed instantly by truck whilst training