Fourth day in the Argentinian highlands: even breathing became difficult

On Thursday, competitors racing in the World Rally-Raid Championship round “Desafío Ruta 40” in Argentina had to fight not only for better positions in the standings, but also for every breath of oxygen. “CFMOTO Thunder Racing Team” rider Antanas Kanopkinas said the day was very good, but at the same time extremely difficult, mainly because of the high-altitude sections they had to climb during the special stage.

“Another really good, unbelievable and incredibly difficult day. We climbed to 3,200 meters above sea level, where you had to catch air like a fish. It was difficult for the quad as well, but we already faced the same issue yesterday — this time we discussed it with the mechanics in advance and made a certain technical adjustment that worked,” A. Kanopkinas said after the finish, adding that today’s stage was especially difficult, with many rocky sections that required one hundred percent concentration at all times.

“I’m happy that we brought home another medal and added another stage victory to both the team’s and my personal record,” the rider said happily.

On Friday, competitors will face the final and decisive day of the “Desafío Ruta 40” rally. Participants will both start and finish in San Juan, covering a 340-kilometer special stage along with more than 230 kilometers of liaison sections throughout the day. Organizers are predicting an extremely fast stage, where most of the route will consist of hard-packed terrain, although there will also be difficult mountain sections and dangerous descents.

Altitude will once again become a serious challenge, as the route climbs to more than 3,300 meters above sea level. Organizers also note that the final rally day will demand maximum concentration, because after four extremely demanding stages, fatigue will become another major factor in the fight for the final results.