The intense storm hit the Patagonic region as well as most part of Argentina which prevented helicopters from operating and that forced the Organizers to cancel the first stage of Desafío Ruta 40, which started and finished in the city of San Carlos de Bariloche.
“The intense storm prevented the helicopters from taking off. This forced us to make the decision and cancel the first stage of the race since they are a key safety component of the competition. We always give priority to the competitor’s safety above all and that is why we decided not to compete under these circumstances”, stated Pablo Eli after communicating the news to the competitors.
Intense rain fell in Bariloche during the night and in the morning the scenario was not the best. After many changes in the start schedule, the Clerks of the Course decided to call off the selective section for today after that the weather forecast Service of Bariloche’s Airport reported that the weather was not going to get better.
Second Stage for tomorrow
The second competitive day of Desafío Ruta 40 will start tomorrow from 8:00am. As is was announced in the start ceremony, the rain made the roads for selective section impassable. Consequently, the second stage will have the same itinerary as Stage 1 and after the timed section; the caravan will head to Zapala.
Tomorrow’s stage will have 363,53 timed kilometers between Bariloche and Comallo, and then a liaison to Zapala. The first bike will leave Bariloche’s bivouac from 8:00am, then the selective section will start at 8:30.
Competitors will find surfaces which can be a little bit muddy, but firm in the first kilometers. By following the Road Book, participants will find a remarkable change of pace by getting to a track’s area where prints will take them to higher grounds.
As an average, the special will be key for the navigation and then by the end of the itinerary, the race will return to more visible tracks and roads that combine fast sections with twisty returns.
Around 4pm the caravan of Desafío Ruta 40 will arrive to the Municipal Sport Hall of Zapala, where the second bivouac of the race will be located.
The Protagonist’s Voices:
Daniel Gouet (KTM 450 Rally): “We really wanted to race but if the helicopter couldn’t fly it means things are complicated because a rider can fall off so it’s better for everything to be ok in terms of safety so that we can start tomorrow”.
Sebastián Halpern (Yamaha Raptor): “The truth is that I woke up this morning thinking about facing the rain and the cold but reality is that safety is always a priority so I understand the situation”
Luis Ignacio Rosselot (Mitsubishi Montero): “It is my first race in the Cross-Country Rally and I was really willing to start but no doubt the weather is going to be better tomorrow and the safety operative ready.
This is a risky sport and we don’t know who can be in a complicated situation, but it’s always better to count with as much safety as possible for these types of competitions”
