Sam Sunderland was slated to race the Enduropale du Touquet for the first time, but barring a miracle recovery or the gutsiest decision he’s ever made, those plans will likely shelved after he broke three of his vertebrae in a recent accident.

After what he called a “right mischief”, Sunderland fractured his T1, T2, and T3 vertebrae.

He was slated to compete in the main race. Sunderland was entered as #30 on a Triumph TF, a marque he’s been using in enduro races since becoming their off-road ambassador last year. In July, he became the first Adventure Lite class winner at the Red Bull Romaniacs on a Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro.

Sunderland had long dreamed of racing the Enduropale du Touquet. While sand racing isn’t his forte, he had done events like the Weymouth Beach Motocross as a teenager so Le Touquet was naturally a bucket list item. However, it was hard to secure that opportunity since his focus for much of his career was on the Dakar Rally and World Rally-Raid Championship.

Now that the two-time Dakar winner and 2022 W2RC champ is retired from rally raids, an opening is available. Of course, the injury means he’ll have to wait until 2027.

Had he taken part, Sunderland would’ve joined newly minted victor Édouard Boulanger as Dakar winners in the main Enduropale du Touquet. Stéphane Peterhansel, Cyril Neveu, and Romain Dumontier are signed up for the Enduro Vintage event.

Featured image credit: Marcelo Maragni / Red Bull Content Pool