Heavy fog caused a delay and a course modification in Stage 10 of the Dakar Rally, however riders still faced one of the longest and most difficult routes that took them though the desert of Atacama.

Spanish rider Jordi Viladoms, on a KTM, won the 10th stage of the Rally. Viladoms finished 1min 06sec ahead of rider Alain Duclos (KTM) and 8:29 ahead of Portuguese biker Helder Rodriguez, also on a KTM.

Jordi Viladoms took the win after the early leaders went in the wrong direction. Spain’s Marc Coma made a navigational error and got lost, a mistake causing the leaders to go on a 23 km loop to get back on course allowing late starters to benefit. This allowed Viladoms, Alain Duclos, and Helder Rodrigues to the top three spots and the second stage win for Viladoms in his Dakar career.

This error almost erased Coma’s entire 63 minute lead in the overall standings, however he did end the day in 7th position. Coma is still leads overall rankings with a mere one minute and six second lead over France’s David Fretigne.

The stage win also helped Viladoms move up a spot in the overall standings to fourth-place with Lopez losing four places, dropping to eighth overall.

Cristobal Guerrero fell at kilometer 160 and was taken by medical chopper to Copiapo Hospital where he is currently in a coma.

Dakar organisers have cancelled Stage 11 between Copiapo in Chile and Fiambala in Argentina, due to predicted adverse weather conditions over the Andes.

Stage 10 results:

1. Viladoms KTM 06:35:26
2. Duclos KTM 06:36:32
3. Ullevalseter KTM 06:37:33
4. Rodrigues KTM 06:43:55
5. Casteu KTM 06:44:10

Source | dakar

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