Spanish Dakar Rally rider Carles Falcon has passed away following a crash on stage 2 last week.
He was 45 years old.
Falcon had crashed out of the Rally on kilometer 448 of the stage, and was found with no pulse by a fellow competitor. He was then airlifted to a hospital in Saudi Arabia, and days ago to Spain.
The team had reported Falcon suffered a fracture in his C2 that required “urgent surgery.”
Dakar director David Castera told reporters after the crash that the rider had also suffered a compression in his lungs and head trauma.
Despite medical efforts, Falcon died on Monday.
“Carles has left us,” a team statement read. “The medical team confirmed that the brain injuries suffered by the cardiac arrest at the moment of the crash are irreversible.
“Carles was a smiling, always-active person that passionately enjoyed everything he did, specially with the bikes.
“He left us doing something that was his dream – racing in the Dakar Rally. He was enjoying, he was happy riding the bike.
“We ask t hat the privacy of the family and the team is respected during the farewell events that will be held in the following days.”
Falcon had participated in the 2022 edition of the rally, finishing it. He had competed in the Original by Motul category back then too.