Honda rider Joan Barreda has been forced to retire from the Dakar Rally for a second year in a row after getting stuck in a dip on Wednesday’s third stage.
Barreda held a slender lead of 1m31s coming into Wednesday’s 331km San Juan de Marcona-Arequipa stage, having notched up his 22nd career stage win on Monday’s opening test.
But the Spaniard came unstuck at the 143km mark, and was stationary for more than an hour after becoming stuck in an area with rocks and heavy fog.
In the end, he had to be evacuated by helicopter and taken back to the San Juan de Marcona bivouac.
It marks an early end to the 35-year-old’s hopes of finally taking an elusive maiden Dakar title.
Last year, Barreda was forced to withdraw after injuring his knee in a fall, while the previous year he most likely would have been crowned champion without a one-hour penalty for illegal refuelling applied to all of the Honda riders.
Barreda was likewise a strong contender in 2015 and 2016 but fell out of contention with mechanical problems both years.
#5 Monster Energy Honda Team Honda: Joan Barreda
Photo by: Honda Racing
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