Cycling - Veteran Scarponi killed in road accident while training

Lampre-ISD's Michele Scarponi (R) of Italy climbs during the 169 km 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia from Busto Arsizio to Pian de Resinelli May 20, 2012. REUTERS/Luca Bettini/Pool/Files

REUTERS - Italian cyclist Michele Scarponi has been killed in a road accident after being hit by a van while training close to his home in Filottrano, his Astana team said on Saturday.

The 37-year-old finished the Tour of Alps on Friday and left home early on Saturday morning for a training ride where the accident occurred at a crossroads.

"We left a great champion and a special guy, always smiling in every situation, he was a real mile stone and a landmark for everyone in the Astana Pro Team," Astana said in a statement.

Scarponi is survived by his wife and two children.

(Reporting by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru; editing by Amlan Chakraborty)