The body of Belgian rider Eric Palante was found this morning by a crew in a sweep truck that was looking for the 50-year-old on the trail from Chilecito and San Miguel de Tucuman – the route for yesterday’s fifth stage of the Dakar.
The circumstances of Palante’s death are currently being investigated, though no alert was ever received by the organizers and the Belgian’s water had been replenished in the afternoon, according to even promoters.
Palante was taking part in his 11th Dakar as an amateur.
“It is with great sadness that the organizers and the entire family of the Dakar offer their condolences to Eric’s family and friends,” a release from A.S.O. reads.
