Australian rider Toby Price has dropped back to eighth overall approaching a revamped stage four at this year’s Dakar Rally after a five-minute penalty and small crash both proved costly in Peru.
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In the early hours of Tuesday morning (ADST), the 30-year-old former Aberglasslyn resident crossed the line third despite coming off his bike near the halfway point of the 296-kilometre section between Pisco and San Juan De Marcona.
The 2016 title holder recovered to make the stage podium but an earlier infringement, yet to be confirmed what for, pushed Price out to tenth.
This leaves Price almost 12-and-a-half minutes behind stage three winner, current race leader and 2017 champion Sam Sunderland.
“Everything felt really good today, I was really comfortable on the bike,” Price said.
“I did come off the bike after a big drop-off from one of the dunes around the 140km mark. Luckily, I didn’t damage myself or the bike too much, the road-book got filled with sand though so for the rest of the stage I had to just ease my pace a little.”
Wednesday’s 330km fourth stage helps mark the 40th anniversary of the event with the top 15 competitors starting together.
