Brazilian ultra-distance cyclist Claudio Clarindo died on Monday when he was hit by a car as he was training on a highway in Sao Paulo state, his team announced.
The driver of the vehicle fell asleep at the wheel and ran over Clarindo and another cyclist, who were riding on the road's shoulder against traffic on the highway linking Santos and Rio de Janeiro.
Clarindo, 38, went into cardiac arrest and died before he could be aided by medical personnel, while his companion, Jacob Amorim, suffered multiple fractures of both legs.
The cyclist ended last year in 12th place in the world ultra-distance rankings.
During his career he completed the Race Across America five times, a circuit that runs from coast to coast across the United States, a distance of about 5,000 kilometres.
