António Maio completes 1st stage of Dakar 2023 in the Top 20

After having started yesterday his participation in the Dakar Rally with an excellent 13th time in the prologue, the National Cross-Country Champion, António Maio, accomplished today the first stage in Saudi Arabia completing the 367 km in3h43m36s which corresponded to the 18th position of the general classification of the stage.

"I went quiet for this first stage. It had been a long time since I had sailed. It was a relearning. I felt good with the bike too. The bike by the way was very good. It was good, I didn't fall, there was one waypoint where I lost some time, but nothing major, I went back to catch it. Otherwise, everything was fine, a very safe ride, without committing any excesses. There was a lot of dust and that's why I never managed to go around anyone, it was really dusty and dangerous", explained the major of the GNR soon after finishing the selective sector.

Tomorrow the 2nd stage will take the competitors to Al-'Ula, where 430 km will be covered by the chronometer. The road to Al-'Ula will have something unusual in store. The closed tracks will be very challenging, so driving skills will pay good dividends. Even those riders who lose time due to more troubled navigation on the rocky tracks or for some other reason will receive a reward when they come across the splendid canyons and the beautiful scenery near the end. The stage will be decided over the dunes, with some of the majestic Nabataean temples visible on the horizon.

Automatic translation from the original Portuguese version available on www.todoterreno.pt
Source: Antonio Maio official press release
Photo: A.S.O./F.Gooden/DPPI