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Dakar 2016: Stage 1 Canceled Due to Heavy Rain

The 2016 edition of the Dakar Rally didn't kick off as expected, as the inclement weather in South America wreaked havoc in the area where the competition was supposed to start. The race organizers were forced to cancel Stage 1 due to both weather conditions and safety concerns.
Bike convoy at Dakar 2016 10 photos
Photo: Dailymotion capture
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The first event in the 2016 rally was the Prologue in Rosario, a shakedown pre-race stage that yielded the starting order in this year's rally. The weather was hot and sunny during the Prologue, but heavy storms and clouds hit the area afterwards.

With thick, low clouds in the region, all official surveillance and rescue aircraft remained grounded. With the helicopters unable to fly, the safety of the competitors was at risk, so the Race Direction had no other choice than to cancel Stage 1.

Bikes and quads travel in a convoy to the start of Stage 2

Stage 1 being canceled, the competitors had to assemble for the proper start of the rally at Villa Carlos Paz. Obviously, there was no change in the ranking, so the order remains the same like that after the Prologue.

The cars were allowed to travel to Villa Carlos Paz on their own under the liaison sporting rules, but it was not the case for bikes and quads. Motorcycles and quads were assembled in a convoy and traveled together with assistance cars.

Trucks didn't even leave the bivouac and will use the route of the assistance vehicles to reach the start of Stage 2. The second leg of the Dakar 2016 links Villa Carlos Paz and Termas de Rio Hondo, and includes the longest special stage, a 450 km (280 mile) leg, complemented by 316 km (196 miles) of liaison.

Honda leads the current ranking with Barreda Bort, followed by a very fast Ruben Faria riding a Husqvarna and Helder Rodrigues with Yamaha.

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