Antoine Méo has taken his first ever Dakar stage win in his rookie edition. The Flanders rider command the today’s pace, in front of Honda’s of Gonçalves and Benavides. Paulo Gonçalves who assist Walkner, keeps the lead of the rally.
Today’s last stage before Sunday’s rest day left Bolivia to back in Argentina soil. Toby Price had a poor pace today despite launched the opening, the Australian only managed to finish sixth today, seven minutes slower than team mate, Antoine Méo who takes his first ever stage victory in Dakar’s rally, despite compete his first one.
Second today was Paulo Gonçalves who extend the gap with his opponents, despite assist one of his rivals, Matthias Walkner who crashed and get wounded his femur. It is the return in Argentina and the return of Honda’s good pace with local rider, Kevin Benavides finishing on third position in today’s stage Yamalube Yamaha of Hélder Rodrigues is also back on top with a fourth place, been 5 minutes slower than Meo.
The stage was suspended at the end of this due to violent thunderstorm sweeping through the second timed section, which suddenly made rise the water levels in the rivers around kilometer 350.