Aussie rally star Daniel Sanders has vowed to journey on within the gruelling Dakar Rally regardless of struggling a suspected damaged collarbone and sternum in a crash on Wednesday night time (AEDT).
Sanders, the reigning champion of the bikes division of the famous race, was as soon as once more main the class when he crashed over a sand dune 138km into the 371km tenth stage.
The 31-year-old battled via the ache to complete the stage earlier than looking for medical therapy on the in a single day cease. He has dropped from the result in fourth general, however stated he must be “dragged out” of the race earlier than stopping.
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“It appears for positive like a snapped collarbone,” he advised reporters.
“I went over a dune and it was fairly scary. I almost landed on (one other competitor) and all of us missed it. However I bought up and knew the collarbone was damaged, and in addition the sternum. I’ve damaged this as properly, so there is no energy.
Daniel Sanders in motion earlier within the rally. Pink Bull Content material Pool
“It wasn’t good on the dunes in any respect. Sadly, we have let the rally go now. We’ll return to the staff and re-evaluate the accidents and the state of affairs and see if it is protected to proceed I assume.”
In a video posted to X, Sanders may very well be seen wincing as he took his driving gloves and helmet off on the finish of the stage, however later declared if he was pressured out of the race, it will not have been his resolution.
“I need to proceed – I would not end at present if I did not need to proceed. I’ve simply performed 150km within the sand dunes – it is all rocks now so I can simply get up and cruise alongside,” he stated.
“On the gravel roads it is just a little easer, however we’ll see. We do not stop – Mum and Dad did not elevate no quitter, so I am not pulling out now.
“Except another person tells me to tug out, or they drag me out of the race, I am not stopping.”
Sanders started the stage with a snug six-and-a-half minute lead over American Ricky Brabec, who was among the many first on the scene after his crash and stopped to help his stricken rival. Race stewards credited him with 97 seconds for stopping to assist Sanders, who unsurprisingly misplaced 27 minutes over the remaining 230km to slide to fourth, 17 minutes behind Brabec.
Sanders in an in a single day camp. Pink Bull Content material Pool
Brabec leads Sanders’ Argentinian teammate Luciano Benavides by 56 seconds with Spaniard Tosha Schareina third for Honda one other quarter-hour and 43 seconds behind.
Within the automotive class, Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah returned to the highest for Dacia and opened up a 12-minute hole on Toyota’s South African Henk Lategan and an additional 50 seconds on Ford’s earlier chief Nani Roma.
The race ends on Sunday morning (AEDT) on the Pink Beach.
