Vincenzo Nibali's agent in critical condition after car crash

Cycling agent, Alex Carera is critical but stable after a car crash that left one dead on Saturday morning in Italy. His vital organs are fine but doctors fear for his legs after a six-hour operation.

"He's lucid, conscious," his wife, Alessia Grossi commented on her Facebook page yesterday evening. "The prognosis remains reserved due to the numerous fractures, but it's comforting to see that determination in his eyes that sets him apart."

The 38-year-old Italian works for several cyclists including Giro d'Italia winner, Vincenzo Nibali (Astana). He and his brother Johnny own A&J Sport Management Agency.

He drove head-on into an oncoming car on Italy's A4 Autostrada east of Brescia, according to Italy's Tutto Bici website. Carlo Loda, 78, stopped at the Autogrill service station and re-entered the motorway travelling in the wrong direction. He made it around 500 metres before striking two cars and was killed. The first driver escaped with minor injuries but the second driver, Carera was worse off.

A photo showed the front end of Carera's silver BMW estate smashed, the windscreen shattered and airbags deflated. "After I saw his car," said his brother in Facebook press release, "it's truly a miracle that he survived such a devastating impact."

According to reports in Tutto Bici and La Gazzetta dello Sport, Carera is free from danger but remains in critical but stable condition.

Former pro, Arnaud Coyot dies

Arnaud Coyot, a former professional, died in a car accident around 6:30am on Sunday morning in Northern France.

According to Le Courrier Picard newspaper, the 33-year-old Frenchman was with Guillaume Levarlet, cyclist for team Cofidis and the car's driver, and Sébastien Minard (AG2R-La Mondiale) and returning from a disco.

Levarlet's Citroën Xsara swerved off the road and into a barrier. The other two Frenchmen escaped major injuries. The newspaper reported that Levarlet had been drinking.

Coyot raced from 2002 to 2012 with Cofidis, Unibet, Caisse d'Epargne and Saur-Sojasun. He rode to 10th place in the 2005 Paris-Roubaix.