Dakar Rally Stage 7 Halted Due To Extreme Weather
Jean Turner | January 9, 2016
It looks like the rest day at the Dakar Rally has come early today, with Stage 7 halted for the motorcycles due to more extreme weather. Violent thunderstorms descended on the second timed section of today’s stage, which was taking riders from Uyuni, Bolivia back into Argentina. The rapidly rising river levels prompted race promoters to suspend the stage near La Quiaca, just after the race had crossed back into Argentina.
Red Bull KTM’s Antoine Meo was declared the winner in the abbreviated stage, marking his career-first stage victory. HRC rider Paulo Goncalves looked to be significantly off the pace, carding a 15th place finish in the stage, but he was awarded time back for stopping to aide downed rider Matthias Walkner. With almost 11 minutes deducted from his score, Goncalves is now credited with second on the day, and has likely succeeded in retaining the overall lead in the rally.
Motorcycles stuck at the start of the second special will now convoy to the bivouac at Salta, Argentina by way of an alternate route.
There is no word yet on Walkner’s condition. The Austrian rider, who has been a top contender up to this point in the rally, was helicoptered out following his crash.
Official results are not yet posted, but stay tuned to Cyclenews.com for a full report and results from Stage 7 still to come.