WATCH: Portuguese rider Paulo Goncalves dies after crash on Stage 7 of Dakar Rally

Goncalves is the first competitor to die in the gruelling endurance event since Polish motorcycle rider Michal Hernik in Argentina in 2015.

Saudi Arabia: Portuguese rider Paulo Goncalves died after a crash on Stage 7 of the Dakar Rally on Sunday.

The 40-year-old suffered the fatal accident after 276 kilometres (171 miles) of the seventh stage.

Speaking on the incident, Rally director David Castera said,"Paulo, he'd been around a long time and everyone knew him. Just 5 stages ago he was flying along the course with great commitment. But he also knew the risk of the rally, that's true. And when something like that happens it's very difficult for everybody."

Goncalves, the 2013 cross-country rallies world champion, was taking part in his 13th Dakar Rally and was runner-up to Marc Coma five years ago.

Riding for Hero Motorsports Team Rally, he had been in 46th place overall going into the seventh stage from Riyadh to Wadi Al Dawasi.

Goncalves is the first competitor to die in the gruelling endurance event since Polish motorcycle rider Michal Hernik in Argentina in 2015.

X-raid Mini driver Carlos Sainz has picked up his third stage win of the 2020 Dakar Rally to further extend his advantage at the top of the general classification.

Sainz's advantage over reigning champion Nasser Al-Attiyah in the overall standings is now exactly 10 minutes.

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