French rider Thomas Bourgin was killed on Friday during the Dakar Rally's seventh stage.
Bourgin died in a traffic accident on the link route as he rode to the start of the day's special stage in the Chilean side of the mountain range. The 25-year-old rider crashed with a Chilean police car that was travelling in the opposite direction. Race officials said the circumstances of the accident are being subjected to an inquiry.
Bourgin was in 68th position in the overall standings of what was his first Dakar.
"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," said the officials in a statement.
Bourgin is the third fatality of this year's Dakar, following the two people who were killed on Wednesday night in another traffic accident.