Former world cycling champion Zinauda Stagurskaya was killed when she was hit by a car while training near the eastern Belarus city of Vitebsk on Thursday.

Police say she was riding behind the car of her trainer, who was able to avoid the oncoming car as it crossed the center line on the Vitebsk-Gomel highway. She died at the scene.

Stagurskaya, 38, had lived in Italy with her Italian husband since 2001 and traveled to Belarus to take part in the national championships this week.

In her career she had won the world road title in 2000 and taken part in three Olympic games – 1992, 1996 and 2004. Stagurskaya left behind her husband and 21-year-old daughter, who is also a cyclist.