WADI AL DAWASIR, Saudi Arabia – Portuguese rider Paulo Goncalves has died following a crash during the Dakar Rally on Sunday.
The veteran motorcycle competitor crashed at the 276 kilometer mark in Sunday’s stage. He was found unconscious after going into cardiac arrest and was taken by helicopter to Layla Hospital.
Despite the best efforts of medical personnel to revive him, Goncalves was pronounced dead. He was 40 years old.
Goncalves was taking part in his 13th Dakar Rally after making his event debut in 2006. He finished inside the top-10 four times during his career, including a runner-up performance in 2015 to Marc Coma. He was 46th overall entering Sunday’s stage.
The death of Goncalves is the first during the Dakar Rally since Michal Hernik died in 2015.