The third stage of the Dakar Rally, between Al Duwadimi and Al Salamiya, ended with a Spaniard on the podium. The Valencian driver Joan Barreda (Hero Racing) has crossed the finish line in second position, only behind the Chilean Pablo Quintanilla, his former Honda teammate. The man from Torreblanca shaved two minutes off Quintanilla in the last section of the special to finish 1'38” behind him. Kevin Benavides, current champion, completed the podium.
The day also leaves several abandonments, the most notable being that of one of the favorites to win the title: Sam Sunderland. The British, two-time Dakar champion, in 2017 and 2022, ended up withdrawing due to mechanical problems after spending more than three hours trying to repair his motorcycle.
The overall standings are still led by Ross Branch, who finished fifth. The Botswanan remains first with 4 minutes and 11 seconds over the Chilean Nacho Cornejo and with 5 minutes and 8 seconds over the American Ricky Brabec.
This third stage, which was a 'semi-marathon', covered 733 kilometres, 438 of them timed, between the Saudi towns of Ad Duwadimi and Al Samiya, in one of the longest days of the Dakar and the most varied of the rally, as a first stretch of dunes gave way to a patch of stones and another of dirt.
This day also awaited added toughness at the finish line: the mechanics only had two hours after the arrival of the drivers to repair the vehicles, which were left in parc ferme ahead of this Tuesday's stage.
