PISTOIA, Italy: The Italian Cycling Federation says national team coach Franco Ballerini has died following a crash during an amateur rally race. The federation said on its Web site that the 45-year-old Ballerini was taking part as a navigator in a rally early Sunday when his car swerved off the road and crashed.
Medical staff at the track spent 45 minutes trying to revive him before he was taken to a hospital and declared dead.
The driver, Alessandro Ciardi, was also taken to the hospital with a reported fractured pelvis.
Ballerini had been head coach since 2001 and led the team to one Olympic gold and four world titles.
Meanwhile in Doha, Britain’s Team Sky won the first stage of the Tour of Qatar on Sunday with Norwegian rider Edvald Boasson Hagen taking the leader’s yellow jersey after finishing first in a 8.2-kilometer (5-mile) time trial.
Sky are 8 seconds ahead of last year’s winners Garmin with Danish team Saxo Bank back in third place.
Switzerland’s Cervelo were given a one-minute penalty and demoted to last place for an illegal changeover.
Belgian rider and defending champion Tom Boonen was 20 seconds off the lead as his Quick Step team finished in fifth place.
The 147-kilometer second stage takes place on Monday.
