Three big names were knocked out of this year’s Dakar Rally on a dramatic Thursday, with the stage running from Jujuy in Argentina to Tupiza in Bolivia. Coverage of Thursday’s stage airs on Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
Carlos Sainz of Peugeot and his co-driver, Lucas Cruz, were lucky to escape unscathed from this barrel roll down a hill.
It was a tough end for the FIA World Rally Championship veteran who in recent years has tackled the Dakar.
Fan footage captured Sainz’s accident, and that is linked above.
.@CSainz_oficial, winner of the 2010 edition abandons / Sainz abandona. #Dakar2017 pic.twitter.com/AzSThYOzth
— DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 6, 2017
Rough day and free falling for @CSainz_oficial during stage 4. / Día duro y caída libre para Carlos Sainz en la etapa 4. #Dakar2017 pic.twitter.com/hqrHruinyz
— DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 5, 2017
Al-Attiyah, the stage one winner in his Toyota, was officially a confirmed retirement on Thursday.
BREAKING: #Toyota makes official the withdrawal of @AlAttiyahN from the #Dakar2017. / Toyota oficializa la retirada de Al-Attiyah del Dakar. pic.twitter.com/QnWhTdZZac
— DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 5, 2017
Price, meanwhile, suffered a fractured left femur, which knocked the defending bike champion out of the race. Competitors and fans wished Price well, and fortunately Price checked in on Twitter this morning to provide an update on his own.
How things can change so quick, was all going fine till one rock caught me out! I guess all @dakar's can't go perfecto. 😞#Dakar2017
— Toby Price (@tobyprice87) January 6, 2017
The stage five course map is below.
🏁 Stage 5 🏁
— DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 6, 2017
📍 Tupiza 🇧🇴 - Oruro 🇧🇴
🚙🏍🚛 692 km (SS: 447 km)
📝 https://t.co/HLDetDlooQ
😎 @boliviatravel1 #Dakar2017 pic.twitter.com/45P5UfBmiC