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Italian cyclist Davide Rebellin has died aged 51 after a collision with a truck while training near Vicenza on Wednesday.<\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n His career spanned three decades before he retired earlier this year.<\/span><\/p>\n He also won an individual stage in the 1996 Giro d’Italia.<\/span><\/p>\n “This is an infinitely sad day for all those who follow cycling,” Tour de France chief Christian Prudhomme said.<\/span><\/p>\n Lotto-Soudal general manager John Lelangue added: “I just can’t believe it. He was with us Sunday night at the Monte Carlo Criterium dinner.”<\/span><\/p>\n Seven-time Tour de France individual stage winner Richard Virenque said: “He was a lovely, loyal person and we shared some wonderful moments together.”<\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/span><\/p>\n