PARIS, April 10, 2010 (AFP) – Former Paris-Roubaix champion Franco Ballerini, who died in an accident last February, is to be honored by race organizers this year.

ASO (Amaury Sports Organisation) will award the ‘Franco Ballerini Pavé (cobblestone)’ to the best placed Italian rider in the 259km epic, which races over 53km of cobblestones spread over 27 sections.

Ballerini is one of only eight Italians to have won the race known as the ‘Hell of the North’, having triumphed in 1995 and 1998 after being inspired to take part by three-time winner and compatriot Francesco Moser.

Ballerini, 45, died February 7 when he was involved in a crash during a rally race in Italy.

After his 13th and final participation in Paris-Roubaix in 2001, Ballerini became the sports director for the Italian national team.

He was in charge when Paolo Bettini (2006, 2007) and Alessandro Ballan (2008) were crowned world champions.

The last Italian to win Paris-Roubaix was Andrea Tafi in 1999.

Saxo Bank’s Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, the winner in 2006, lines up as a big favorite Sunday although Belgian rival Boonen is a three-time winner, including the past two years.

If Boonen wins he will equal the all-time record of four victories held by compatriot Roger de Vlaeminck.