Dakar 23: the dramatic story of Chaleco López, the Chilean almost overwhelmed by the river and went viral

The images are disturbing. Social networks immediately multiplied the action and, like any surprise event, it went viral. Part of the extreme situations that the Dakar provokes every day, the most demanding competition on the planet.

It seems incredible that this race designed to take place in the desert and that as of 2020 takes place in the vast desert of Saudi Arabia, the rain surprised with its presence in the third stagebetween AlUla and Hail, almost in the center of the Middle Eastern country.

And here, where water is scarce during the four seasons of the year, thunderstorms hit the Dakar camp. Nothing worse than this climatic condition for a traveling city of almost 3,000 people and designed to function on dry sand.

But the complications experienced at the bivouac, between tents, campers and mobile workshops, have been eclipsed by what was experienced in the race. The water surprised in such a way that it nearly carried, in a torrential current, a Francisco “Vest” Lopez, the idol of Chile in the Dakarian world. A former motorcyclist, he now competes in Sude by Side, the light vehicles.

The images taken from the helicopter are stunning. The water was rushing as Lopez’s UTV began to float and drifted into the river. There both Chaleco and his navigator, Juan Pablo Latrach Vinagre, did everything possible to save the vehicle.

“The river wasn’t deep, but it was very flowing. I was ready to open the door if the depth surprised me. But suddenly the water reached the ceiling and the car began to float.. There I was desperate to save the car. It was the only thing I thought about” Chaleco said clarion.

The Chilean left his vehicle in the box at the team field and took the time to talk, despite being soaked in the cold Arabian night. Just got out of the car, they immediately showed him the images that travel the world. She held her head as she watched an amazing story she was the protagonist of about five hours ago.

“It’s really amazing, but I assure you it’s harder to experience it there in the river. We had a really bad time. In a minute I thought, like a good captain, of sinking with the car. I looked at it and thought I missed it. And I thought, as the car started to float, she drifted to the river bank. And there Juan Pablo arrived, and we took it,” the Chilean driver said passionately.

“It’s another adventure. I experienced difficult things in the Dakar, but it was amazing. I’m glad I didn’t lose the car. Now we know we have to work a lot, it’s full of sand. You have to be optimistic, take a shower and wait for tomorrow,” she commented confidently, knowing that the Dakar, as a good experienced driver, is about overcoming all kinds of inconveniences.

The water surprised everyone. Also to the organization, which decided to shorten the stage when the motorcycle leaders had already completed the route. That’s why the annoyed face of Kevin Benavideswho had just been very fast in the last part, which they eliminated to face the rest of the competitors who could not pass him.

In the premier class Daniel Sanders He was the victor and now rides the motorcycle general, unseating Mason Klein. The rider from Salta finished fourth of the day and is now third overall, 6’53s behind Sanders.

Franco Caimi (Hero) is 17th; Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) finished 22nd and Daniel Llanos, 25th.

in cars, Orly Newfoundland finished second with the BRX, behind the French Chicherit, while Nasser Al-Attiyah he took the vanguard of the general, taking advantage of the troubles he suffered Charles Sainz in his Audi. Sebastián Halpern and Juan Cruz Yacopini of Mendoza finished 27th and 29th respectively.

Among the lightweights, Jeremías González Ferioli suffered several drawbacks, as did Nicolás Cavigliasso, while Juan Manuel “Pato” Silva finished 31. “I took the day patiently, taking into account all the problems that arose, including the rain and the cold. It’s worse to be in the desert,” said the man from the Chaco.

In quads, the day was not a good one for the Buenos Aires native Manu Andújaras he had to solve a mechanical problem with his quad and lost 30 minutes against his great rival, the Frenchman Alexander Giroud, who won the stage and took the lead in the general classification.

The fourth stage will start at 5:30 local time. David Castera, director general of the Dakar, confirmed that despite the rains the day will take place, which will be a “loop”, starting and finishing in Hail, over a total distance of 573 kilometres.

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