Italian cyclist Michele Scarponi dies aged 37 after training crash

Scarponi was hit by a van while training

Scarponi won the opening stage of the Tour of the Alps last week (Getty )

Italian cyclist Michele Scarponi has died at the age of 37 after being hit by a van while training.

Scarponi had returned home to Filottrano, in the province of Ancona, after finishing fourth in the Tour of the Alps in Trento on Friday afternoon.

Team Astana announced the rider's death in a statement on Saturday morning, saying it was a "tragedy too big to be written".

Scarponi, who was awarded 2011 Giro d'Italia victory when Alberto Contador was stripped of the title, won the opening stage of the Tour of the Alps last week, and was slated to lead Astana at the 2017 Giro.

Scarponi of Astana Pro Team competes during the 15th stage of the 99th Giro d'Italia, May, 2016 (Getty)

He leaves behind a wife and two children.

Astana paid tribute to a "great champion and a special guy".

The team statement read: "Michele died in the morning while he was training. This is a tragedy too big to be written.

"Our athlete Michele Scarponi died this morning while he was training on his bike close to his home in Filottrano. Michele has been hit by a van on a crossroad.

Scarponi signs a T-shirt for a fan (Getty)

"Born on September 25th 1979, he left a wife and two kids.

"Michele ended 4th in the Tour of Alps yesterday afternoon in Trento. Then he went home in Filottrano (Ancona) by car with his masseur and was home in the evening to his family.

"This morning Michele went out on his bike for an early morning training and there the tragedy happened."

"We left a great champion and a special guy, always smiling in every situation. He was a real milestone and a landmark for everyone in the Astana Pro Team.

"The Astana Pro Team clings to the Michele family in this incredibly painful moment of sorrow and mourning."

PA