Dakar cancels Stage 12 for bikes, quads

Due to run a distance of 723 km from Fiambala to San Juan, Thursday’s running was supposed to make up the second part of the marathon stage, where overnight assistance from teams is prohibited.

However prevailing weather conditions had put a question mark over the running of the stage from the very beginning, with the organisers initially deciding to alter the route.

Now, the organising team, led by Race Director Marc Coma, has decided to cancel the stage altogether on safety grounds.

This is the second time a stage has been cancelled in 2018, after Monday's Tupiza – Salta test was also abandoned over weather concerns.

“Following the study of the safety conditions for bikes and quads race tomorrow, despite a first modification of the stage announced this afternoon, having consulted the competitors grouped at Fiambala’s marathon bivouac, the Race Direction has taken the decision to cancel the 12th special stage for bikes and quads,” read a statement from ASO.

Following the cancellation, the first bike will leave for San Juan, the starting point for Stage 13, at 6am local time.

Cars and trucks, however, will continue as usual, with their route significantly different to that of bikes and quads.