French Racer Killed In Dakar Rally

Cycle News Staff | January 11, 2013

Motorcycle racer Thomas Bourgin was killed this morning in the Dakar Rally, the Frenchman colliding with a Chilean police car while on the link route heading to the start of the day’s special stage.

Bourgin, 25, and the police car hit head-on with and the cause of the accident is currently being investigated. Event organizers believe Bougin was killed instantly.

Bourgin, from Saint Etienne, France, was in 68th overall in his first Dakar Rally. He had previously finished fourth in the 2011 Africa Race and seventh in the Tunisia Rally.

“The organizers of the Dakar and everyone involved in it express their great sadness to his family and friends and offer their most sincere condolences,” a statement read in a press release issued this morning.

Bourgin is the third rider to die in the Dakar Rally since it moved to South America in 2009.