ROME, Feb 7, 2010 (AFP) – Former Italian cyclist Franco Ballerini died on Sunday morning after an accident in a rally in Larciano, Tuscany, the Ansa news agency reported.

Ballerini was acting as the co-driver for Alessandro Ciardi when the accident happened. Ciardi is in a coma, according to Ansa.

The 45-year-old Ballerini was a former two-time Paris-Roubaix winner and also claimed the Paris-Brussels race in 1990.

The native of Florence became Italian team coach in 2001 and led the national team at the World Championships and Olympic Games.