Buenos Aires, Jan 11 (IANS): Belgian motorcyclist Eric Palante was found dead on a road where the 2014 Dakar Rally's fifth stage was held between the cities of Chilecito and San Miguel de Tucuman in Argentina.
According to the rally organisers Friday, Palante was found dead at kilometre 143 of Thursday's stage, but the cause of death is still unknown, reports Xinhua.
The investigation into the causes and circumstances of Palante's death is being overseen by Analia Castro, a judge from Argentina's northern province of Catamarca.
The rally organisers said no alert or emergency call was reported.
This was the 11th time that the 50-year-old rider and father of five children participated in the Dakar Rally. His best result was in 2012, when he finished 66th.
Palante, who would have turned 51 on Jan 21, was born in Vaux-Sous-Chevremont.