- The experienced rider from the HIMOINSA Racing Team spent all night attempting to repair his bike to no avail.
January 4th, 2017 – Resistencia (Argentina). Antonio Ramos, one of the most experienced riders in Rally Dakar 2017, has been forced to pack his bags early due to an unfortunate malfunction on his bike. The HIMOINSA Racing Team’s veteran rider watched his bike come to a stop after having electrical issues on the 8th kilometre of the second stage’s special. He worked day and night under terrible conditions to attempt to repair the bike, in the suffocating heat and on the verge of fainting, until five in the morning, when he decided to give up and deemed the bike unrepairable.
This is the first withdrawal of any of the components of the HIMOINSA Racing Team ever, given that in 2016 all of its components managed to cross the finish line, but this year it is forced to leave one of them behind already in the second stage. The squad keeps moving forward into the more decisive stages of the race with the rest of its components still in high spirits, as Miguel Puertas explained: “It is a pity for Antonio, who was very excited and well prepared for this Dakar, but this was all for a reason he could not control. I am very sorry for him, but the race moves on and we have five more warriors willing to keep fighting.” Rosa Romero, who was backed up by Antonio most of the time, will still strive to complete this Dakar with the help of a different rider.
As for Gerard Farrés and Iván Cervantes, they tackle the first challenges in the rally, after completing the first two “transition” stages. “It wasn’t a walk in the park, but until now there was not too much difficulty. Now we will face the challenge of altitude as well as complications in the terrain with the first sand dunes… we will see” stated Farrés before starting the third stage. Himoinsa’s two big guns remain within the top fifteen, keeping their expectations intact, and the same goes for Gimeno and Oliveras, who hold on to the top 30. Dakar’s red army has lost one of its components, but its team spirit will give them the strength to push through with their objetives on their way to Buenos Aires.
Rankings: Stage 2 – Overall
- Gerard Farrés (+06.49)
- Iván Cervantes (+10.09)
- Antonio Gimeno (+19.30)
- Dani Oliveras (+20.25)
- Rosa Romero (+1.20.43)
Next stage: San Miguel de Tucumán – San Salvador de Jujuy (780 km)
