Former Paris-Roubaix winner passes away in Italy at the age of 45
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Franco Ballerini gives an answer.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Franco Ballerini talks to Paolo Bettini (Quick Step).(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Italian national director Franco Ballerini speaks with Ivan Basso (Liquigas).(Image credit: Sirotti)
Giro d'Italia director Angelo Zomegnan, left, and Franco Ballerini chat before the start of the Giro di Lombardia.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre) with Franco Ballerini and Paolo Bettini(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Franco Ballerini and Michele Bartoli at the start of Amstel Gold race in 1998(Image credit: Sirotti)
Franco Ballerini (Mapei) was the winner of the 1998 Paris-Roubaix(Image credit: Sirotti)
Franco Ballerini celbrates his 1998 triumph at Paris-Roubaix, his second win at the cobbled Classic.(Image credit: Sirotti)
Franco Ballerini wins the 1995 Paris-Roubaix(Image credit: Sirotti)
Teammages Franco Ballerini, Mario Cipollini and Johan Museeuw in 1993(Image credit: Sirotti)
Franco Ballerini is escorted to the Paris-Roubaix podium after finishing second to Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle in 1993(Image credit: Sirotti)
Italian national cycling coach and former Paris-Roubaix winner Franco Ballerini died on Sunday morning after being involved in a crash during a rally car event in Tuscany, Italy.
According to La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Ballerini, 45, was competing in the rally within the municipality of Larciano as a navigator for pilot Alessandro Ciardi when their vehicle left the road and crashed.
Both were rushed to nearby Pistoia Hospital where despite the efforts of doctors Ballerini passed away soon afterwards.
Ballerini rode as a professional between 1986 and 2001. He won Paris-Roubaix twice, in 1995 and 1998. The cobbled Classic was also his last race as a professional when he retired in 2001.
He quickly became the Italian national professional men's road coach and was in charge of the team that won the rainbow jersey with Mario Cipollini in 2002, Paolo Bettini in 2006 and 2007, and most recently with Alessandro Ballan in Varese in 2008.
Paolo Bettini also won a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics under Ballerini's management.
Cyclingnews spoke to Pat McQuaid as the UCI President was about to board a plane for Vancouver, Canada. He hadn’t heard the news, and was stunned to hear of Ballerini’s passing.
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“What can you say - it is a tragedy for Italian and world cycling,” he stated. “He was a very good figure in the Italian team over several years now, creating an importance within the Italian cycling as regards to the title of World professional Champion.
“[The World Championships] has been his biggest day every year with the Italian team. He had a very successful tenure as coach, and he was also a great cyclist too. It is a tragedy that he goes like this.”
