KTM Spokesman said Wendesday that the cyclists hesitated a long time before they made the decision to carry on.

"They wanted to continue, because they thought Fabrizio would have wanted them to", said the spokeman.

Earlier on Tuesday, management at the Austrian bike maker issued a statement strongly advising its riders to withdraw from the race, while still leaving the decision up to the riders.

The KTM Blue spokesman added that riders Jean Brucy, Alfie Cox, and Cyril Despres would go through with their promise to pay respects to another fallen team-mate Richard Sainct by putting a blue motorcycle on the final podium in Dakar. Sainct died early this year on the Rally of the Pharaohs.

Wednesday's Stage 12 has been cancelled for the bikes in tribute to Meoni.

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