Sainz’s car landed on its face behind a dune and spun. At first it was reported that both he and his co-pilot, Lucas Cruz, were fine, but the organization later reported that the pilot had pains in the right area of the chest, which is why he was evacuated by helicopter and transferred to the hospital in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). “He has thrown in the towel,” said the official Dakar account on Twitter.
The plot twist, however, came a few minutes later. In a second tweet, organizers reported that Sainz had asked the helicopter to reverse to rejoin the rally. “The Spaniard asked the medical helicopter that was going to the hospital to turn back and take him to his car. He is now back with Lucas Cruz waiting for his assistance vehicle.” Sainz, already ruled out for the Dakar classification, won the first stage of the Dakar and became the leader for two days. Four hours after the accident, Sainz and Cruz are trying to repair the car with the assistance that arrived a few minutes ago.
Joan Barreda is indeed short
The one who will not continue in the race is the rider from Torreblanca (Valencian Country) Joan Barreda, who has also suffered a fall with the motorcycle (Honda) and has been evacuated to the same hospital in Riyadh with severe back pain. Barreda, who had won the fourth stage of the rally despite having a fracture in his left foot, was eighth in the general classification.
