Portuguese racer Joaquim Rodrigues Jr. (Hero) has withdrawn from the 46th off-road Dakar rally, the first stage of which takes place this Saturday, due to a fall, the organization said.
The motorcyclist from Barcelos fell on the 82nd kilometer of a 414-kilometer ride this Saturday and had to be airlifted to a local hospital in Al Ula.
Joaquim Rodriguez Jr., 42, was “conscious” when medical crews arrived on the scene and was in “stable condition” despite a suspected “fracture,” the organization said on the race’s official website, without providing further details. details.
The Portuguese pilot was assisted by the Portuguese-German Sebastian Bühler (Hero) and the Spaniard Joan Barreda (Hero).
It was Joaquim Rodriguez Jr.’s seventh participation in this off-road marathon, adding to his fourth withdrawal, his second in a row.
In the prologue on Friday, the Portuguese rider finished 21st.
In the first stage, which will take place this Saturday, between Al-Ula and Al-Henakiya, with a result of 414 kilometers, the Spaniard Tosha Shareina (Honda) also retired due to a fall.
Winner of Friday’s motorcycle prologue, the Spanish rider fell at the 240th kilometer of Saturday’s special stage and was taken off the route by the medical team due to “hand injuries,” the organization said.
Saturday’s stage was also marked by an incident with a spectator 200 meters from the start, which is why the start of the cars had to be postponed.