Luciano Benavides Wins Stage 6, Subsequent 2 Levels To Be Marathon

As typically occurs, Stage Six of the 2023 Dakar Rally underwent a slight revision from the unique plan. Climate. in spite of everything, is not within the organizers’ management—so, on this case, the variety of kilometers to finish the stage dropped right down to 357 for the day. Bikes and different rivals had loads of sand and dunes to deal with, so it will be a mistake to suppose it was in any approach straightforward. (How you dune?) 

Nacho Cornejo took an early lead on Stage Six, with Skyler Howes, Toby Value, and Stage 5 winner Adrien Van Beveren additionally proper there within the pack. Not lengthy into the day, although, brothers Kevin and Luciano Benavides made up some critical floor. Provisional instances for each brothers noticed them forward of Toby Value on the 31-kilometer mark, however lots of of kilometers nonetheless remained to get to the tip of the stage. 

After 84 kilometers, nonetheless, it was Skyler Howes who was out in entrance, main Nacho Cornejo by 29 seconds. By the 121-kilometer mark, he’d managed to open up that result in over a minute—nonetheless, that doesn’t take time bonuses into consideration. That’s why the official document contains entries like “Adrien Van Beveren trails Skyler Howes by 2’51’’ however the Frenchman, yesterday’s winner, is enjoying the stage like Pacman, gobbling up the bonuses. He has already accrued 2’56’’ bonuses and is nearly 5’’ forward of Howes!” 

Time bonuses have been now not obtainable to riders after the 207-kilometer mark, and a by-now acquainted set of faces made up the entrance of the pack within the GP bike class. These embody Nacho Cornejo, Adrien Van Beveren, Skyler Howes, Toby Value, and Luciano Benavides. Earlier 2023 stage winner Joan Barreda, Kevin Benavides, and Matthias Walkner have been additionally not far behind the primary group, and Mason Klein was nonetheless within the combine, too. 

By the tip of the stage, Luciano Benavides took the win—that means that to this point in 2023, there have been zero repeat stage winners. Seven levels nonetheless stay within the 2023 Dakar Rally, although, so that would change. Right here’s the complete itemizing of the highest 10 riders on the stage: 

Due to weather-related challenges, Dakar organizers introduced that levels seven and eight might be run in marathon mode for all 2023 Dakar Rally rivals. Additionally, they’ve been exchanged with each other, so what was to have been the route for stage eight is now the route for stage seven, and vice versa. Some slight rejiggering and shortening of distances make it potential to do that in a manageable approach, or so organizers say. 

As a result of the ‘marathon’ portion of those two levels being run collectively was not within the unique plan, there might be an help zone obtainable after the end line of stage seven. Stage Seven will run for 333 kilometers, and stage eight might be 345 kilometers. After rivals attain the bivouac in Riyadh after finishing stage eight, they’ll have a scheduled relaxation day on Monday, January 9.