The Saudi Yazeed Al Rajhi (Toyota) won the tenth stage of the Dakar Rally in cars, a division that has the Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel leading the category, while the general classification of motorcycles lost its leader, Chilean José Cornejo, due to a fall.
The route ran from Neom to Al-Ula, in which Al-Rajhi crossed the finish line ahead of Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota), by 2 minutes and 4 seconds, and Peterhansel, by 2 minutes and 53 seconds.
In the general classification, Peterhansel (Mini) remains in the lead with a comfortable advantage of 17 minutes and 1 second over Al-Attiyah, and he foresees his fourteenth title, thirty years after racing in motorcycles and winning his first Dakar.
-- Excuse me, mate! Coming through!#Dakar2021 pic.twitter.com/eM4dG3AqDs
— DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 13, 2021
In motorcycles, Argentinian Kevin Benavides (Honda) is the new leader in the overall classification, although the stage victory went to his American teammate Ricky Brabec. Chilean José Ignacio Cornejo retired due to a fall.
Brabec completed the 583-kilometer timed section in 3 hours 12 minutes and 33 seconds, ahead of Spanish rider Joan Barreda and Kevin Benavides.
With two stages to go, the overall leader is Benavides with just 51 seconds of advantage over Brabec, the winner of the 2020 Dakar.
Victim of a fall at kilometer 252, Cornejo managed to reach the finish line in eleventh position, with a delay of 17 minutes and 42 seconds compared to the winner of the day; however, he decided to retire from the competition.
Initially, the organization stated that Cornejo had suffered a "non-serious" fall, but after crossing the finish line, the rider, in agreement with the race's medical service, decided to retire, mainly due to a potential risk of concussion.
The Chilean was transported by helicopter to the Tabuk hospital for further examinations.
"I had a very strong fall that left me unconscious for a few minutes, I was able to get back on the bike, but very slowly and with the bike all bent," narrated Cornejo.
"We made it to the finish line but for safety reasons I have to undergo tests due to the strong blow to the head. I feel like a train ran over me," he added, the rider from Iquique (Chile), who stated that the dream of winning the Dakar is "pending" after having felt it very close.
In the medical center in the Saudi city of Tabuk, it was confirmed that the Chilean suffered a concussion, so he will be transferred to another hospital in Jeddah to spend at least 24 hours under observation and undergo a magnetic resonance imaging.
Get back behind the handlebars!
Discover the best onboard footage from yesterday’s stage ⬇️#Dakar2021 pic.twitter.com/hUdy0eaowF
— DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 13, 2021
Russian Sergei Kariakin won the lightweight vehicles stage with a lead of 29 seconds over American Austin Jones, who is second in the general classification, ten minutes behind Chilean Francisco López.
After three consecutive stage victories, López, third in the tenth stage, gave up the top spot on the podium to Kariakin, the day's winner.
In this division, Ecuadorian Sebastián Guayasamín lost time due to a radiator malfunction and finished in 26th place, with a time of 4 hours 13 minutes and 5 seconds.
Meanwhile, Czech Martin Macik (Iveco) repeated his victory in the truck category, with a lead of 1 minute and 40 seconds over the overall leader, Russian Dmitry Sotnikov (Kamaz).
The eleventh and penultimate stage, this Thursday, features a 511-kilometer timed section, the longest of the 43rd edition of the toughest rally raid in the world, which will include the return of the dunes. (D)