He was riding near his home in Filottrano in central Italy today when a van collided with the 37-year-old.

Astana, the team he rides for, issued a statement confirming the Italian had died.

It comes a day after Scarponi, who was married and had two children, had finished fourth in the Tour of the Alps, which he won the opening stage of on Monday (April 17).

“This morning Michele went out on his bike for an early morning training ride and there the tragedy happened,” the statement from Astana said.

“We have lost 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 Scarponi family in this incredibly painful moment of sorrow and mourning.”

Astana also changed their Twitter profile picture to black and put a picture of Scarponi as their cover photo.

Scarponi won the Giro d’Italia, one of cycling’s Grand Tours, in 2011 after the title was stripped off Spain’s Alberto Contador due to anti-doping infringements during the 2010 Tour de France.

That year, Scarponi also won the Giro del Trentino and Volta a Catalunya with the Lampre-ISD team.

He served a drugs ban between 2007 and 2008 after admitting to be involved with Eufemiano Fuentes, the doctor at the centre of the Operación Puerto anti-doping investigation.

Tributes also been paid to Scarponi from other leading cyclists around the world, including Great Britain’s Mark Cavendish.

The 2011 Tour de France Green Jersey winner tweeted: “Absolutely devastating to see the tragic news about @MicheleScarponi.

“One of the nicest guys you could ever meet. RIP my friend.”