The route of the sixth stage of the Dakar 2021 between Al Qaisumah and Hail in Saudi Arabia has been reduced by one hundred kilometers as a security measure the organization announced this Thursday.
Several dozen participants were still completing stage five at the time of the announcement as night fell and the weather was deteriorating in the city of Al Qaisumah.
The sixth stage initially had a special of 448 kilometers and two
A total distance of 792 kilometers but the organizers have decided to reduce the length of the timed stage to give more rest time to the pilots that are further behind essentially the amateurs to recover physically.
Thus a 100-kilometer cut is produced eliminating one of the mandatory crossing points on the route but the connections have remained as planned for a total distance reduced to 689 kilometers.
Riders Stephane Peterhansel and Kevin Benavides currently occupy the top spots in the car and motorcycle categories while there are still seven stages to go.
