Neom (Saudi Arabia) (AFP)
The Australian Toby Price, second in the general classification of motorcycles and winner in 2019, abandoned the Dakar-2021 on Tuesday, suffering from a head injury after having crashed heavily during the 9th stage, won by the Argentinian Kevin Benavides (Honda ).
The 485 kilometers of special, a loop from Neom to Neom by the Red Sea, were marked by crashes and abandonments, that of Toby Price (KTM) but also of the Argentinian Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna), brother of the winner of the day.
Both suffer from head trauma and were hospitalized in Tabuk.
Chilean leader Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo (Honda), who was one minute ahead of Price at the start, consolidates his first place overall by finishing 1 minute 34 seconds behind Benavides.
He is now 11 minutes and 24 seconds ahead of Kevin Benavides and 14 minutes 34 seconds over Briton Sam Sunderland (KTM), who was compensated on his time of the day after stopping to assist Price .
American Ricky Brabec, who also recovered time, found himself 4th overall at 17 minutes 26 seconds ahead of Spaniard Joan Barreda Bort (Honda), 5th at 29 minutes.
The Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) took 5th place in the stage, 13 minutes 52 sec behind the winner of the day and occupies 9th place overall.
The health news is reassuring for Pierre Cherpin, the amateur northerner rider who crashed during the 7th stage.
His condition has improved according to his partner, and he should be repatriated to France within two or three days.
Frenchman Xavier de Soultrait (Husquvarna), who fell and retired on Monday, is injured in the neck and he should also join France within 48 hours.
On Wednesday, for the 10th stage, the competitors will go from Neom to Al Ula for a stage of 342 km of special.
© 2021 AFP