The storms of a complicated Dakar didn’t stop Kevin Benavides who finished second at the halfway point

It didn’t rain on Saturday Riyadh and surroundings. It seems incredible, but it is news in itself in an area where, in general, the news is rain. But after several days of downpours, floods, floods and storms in the desert areas, the Dakar he ended up with an unlikely and, of course, unexpected scenario.

With great speed and reaction he was able to overcome the bad weather to carry out the stages that closed the first half of the competition in the best possible way. Something also incredible: the competition started on December 31st and it already seems like an eternity amidst so many unforeseen events.

The long-awaited day of rest looms on Monday in Riyadhcapital of Saudi Arabia, to fill up on energy, repair mechanical parts, recover physique and lucidity for the second part, which will leave on site on Tuesday at dawn, in the direction of Haradh, already towards the south of the country.

in sports, Argentina’s greatest expectation goes through the performance of Salta’s Kevin Benavides. The KTM rider jumped up to second place in the general standings, 1m13s behind the leader, Skyler Howes (Husqvarna).

There is a curiosity. After more than 4,000 kilometers of travel, Benavides equals the position in time and also in seconds with Mason Klein, the young KTM rider who surprises with his pace, even if he accumulates penalties.

“I am very happy because we finished the first half of the Dakar very well. It has had very long phases, difficult. We had some problems with navigation. Luckily Luciano (his brother) paved the way very well”, explained the man from Salta upon his arrival at the camp in the Saudi capital, “The day was complex because there were many stones. Although I was a little behind on the stage, but in general we are very good to start the second week. Tuesday will be a long stage”, added Kevin, who will enjoy his day off on Monday to celebrate, as usual in the Dakar, his birthday, this time his 34th. That’s why his father, Norberto, has arrived .

The competition is wide open. Besides Howes and Benavides, the first 10 of the general classification are with possibilityknowing that the second part of the competition will be as tough as the previous one, as you will ride through the dreaded “Empty Quarter” area, the most deserted area in Saudi Arabia.

The Mendoza brothers Franco (15th) and Stefano Caimi (29th) also compete in the queen discipline.

Juan Cruz Yacopini of Mendoza in the top 10 cars

In cars, Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah, with a Toyota Hilux, maintains a significant lead (1h3m), due to his excellent pace, but also due to the problems of his rivals: the delay of Sebastien Loeb, with Bahrain (he still won the 8th stage), and the hybrid Audis, of Stephane Peterhansel (he abandoned after the accident on Friday), the problems of Carlos Sainz, as well as that of Markus Ekstrom.

over there, Juan Cruz Yacopini of Mendoza appears in the privileged lot of the Top Ten, with a Toyota Hilux. “The truth was that my goal was not to be 10th in the first half of the Dakar. The idea was to have an orderly race, without big mistakes, but good. After the initial delay, we gained positions and here we are, in a waiting position for the second half of the race,” he told Clarín.

Another man from Mendoza, Sebastián Halpern, also puts in a fantastic performance in a Mini, finishing 11th in the stage and 14th overall: “I’m very satisfied because we advanced from behind and are now well positioned. Luckily I’m not tired, just to recharge my energy for what’s left, which is still a lot”.

Jeremías González Ferioli from Córdoba took victory in the T4 category of Side by Side: “It’s a big surprise to get a win. We had a tough night, in Al Duwadimi’s camp, but luckily it was a very round day for us, to win. We are more than happy.”

Good performances from other Argentines, such as Nicolás Cavigliasso and Juan Manuel “Pato” Silva, of the Puma Energy Rally Team. And David Zille: “I’m having the happiest days of my life,” he confessed to Clarín for having reached this instance, after being involved in an accident that went viral, as he collided head-on with another competitor in the middle of the dunes .

In the quads, the pace of the Frenchman Alexander Giroud is devastating, which is why he is ahead in the general classification with a lead of 1h41m over Manu Andujar, from Buenos Aires, who conquered the 8th stage after tipping over: “I got distracted for a second and I’m upside down. Luckily I was able to move the quad, which weighs about 300 kilos, with a full tank, I fixed it, I continued and I won,” explained Lobos’ one.

There is the Argentine army, with Pablo Copetti, third, and Francisco Moreno de Mendoza, fourth.

The long-awaited day of rest has come. Different day for the camp, which experienced a series of complications due to storms and rain, but everyone took the opportunity to reset their machines, body and mind. The idea is to start from scratch between now and Sunday 15 January, when the caravan will end its run in Dammam, on the Persian Gulf.