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First win for Price, but Walkner retains the lead

The Australian rider triumphs in stage eleven ahead of the Honda of Benavides and the KTM of Meo, Svitko retires, Cerutti 20th

Dakar: First win for Price, but Walkner retains the lead

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it was finally Toby Price's day. In the special between Belen and Fiambalà, the Australian rider scored his first stage win. A memorable performance for the 2016 Dakar winner, who returns to the RAID this year after fracturing his femur last year. The KTM rider's time, of 4 hours, 1 minute and 33 seconds, assured him of the win, 1’38” ahead of Kevin Benavides on the Honda and 6’31” ahead of team-mate Antoine Meo.

Price's victory doesn't alter the general standings though, with Matthias Walkner retaining the overall lead thanks to a 32’ advantage over Benavides, his closest rival. The race leader managed this advantage today, closing eleven minutes behind the stage winner.

Price moves up to third place in the overall classification (+39’17), followed by the KTM of Spaniard Gerrard Farres, the latter proving to be one of the revelation's of this edition of the Dakar. American Ricky Brabec also takes a step forward, closing fourth to move up into sixth overall, while Husqvarna of Pablo Quintanilla lies eighth. The Chilean profits from Stefan Svitko's retirement, moving up one place in the standings.  

Wednesday's special brought more retirements. As well as that of the Slovak, Joan Barreda was also forced to wave the white flag at the 98km mark. As for the Italians, Jacopo Cerutti was fastest, setting the 20th time, with Maurizio Gerini five places further back. In the overall standings, they lie in 20th and 23rd place respectively.

Thursday will see stage 12 of the RAID play out, a Marathon stage, run with no support, with the field departing from Fiambalà and heading to San Juan. A route 722 km in length, 375 km of which makes up the special.

CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 11

Translated by Heather Watson
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