Tragic Loss at Dakar Rally: Remembering Carles Falcón

Carles Falcón, a Spanish motorbike racer, passed away due to injuries he got over a week ago at the Dakar Rally, according to the race’s organizers on Monday. He was 45 years old.

The organizers of the Dakar Rally shared their deep sorrow upon hearing about Carles Falcón’s passing from his relatives. They also expressed heartfelt sympathy to his family and friends.

Falcón met with an accident 448 kilometers into the race’s second stage in Saudi Arabia. He was immediately flown to a hospital for emergency treatment.

His team, Twin Trail Racing, announced on Instagram that Carles had died. They mentioned that he suffered severe neurological damage from a heart and lung issue during the crash.

They also noted that Falcón was found unconscious and not breathing right after the accident but was revived by medical staff.

He was initially taken to Al Duwadimi’s hospital and later moved to Riyadh’s hospital. Eventually, he was brought back to Spain.

Falcón, who was from Tarragona, Spain, had been around motorbikes all his life, as per Twin Trail’s profile of him. He completed the Dakar Rally in 2022.

Twin Trail described him as a cheerful, active person who loved everything he did, especially riding motorbikes. They remembered him for his joy and the happiness he brought to others, noting that he died doing what he loved most.

Besides racing, Falcón worked in IT and was a motorbike teacher and tour guide. Twin Trail highlighted his teaching skills, saying he taught with patience and joy, making everyone love motorbiking.

His family and team asked for privacy regarding the ceremonies to honor him.

The Dakar Rally is among the toughest endurance races globally. This year, it spanned 7,891 kilometers across Saudi Arabia, from AlUla to Yanbu, ending on January 19.