The first day of the rally in Argentina was full of twists: a small issue ruined a great result

The World Rally-Raid Championship round in Argentina got underway on Monday, with competitors facing a total of 511 kilometers on the opening day, including 340 kilometers of special stage. “CFMOTO Thunder Racing Team” rider Antanas Kanopkinas was setting the fastest pace in his class for most of the stage, but what seemed to be a minor technical issue ultimately changed everything.

“For the first 260 kilometers I was riding really fast, overtook all of my rivals, and then the battery died. Somehow I managed to revive it and continue for another 10 kilometers, but then it completely gave up. I had to wait for the organizers’ assistance vehicle to tow me back to the bivouac,” A. Kanopkinas shared about the painful experience, adding that being towed through dusty roads at night was far from pleasant.

According to the rider, the stage itself was both impressive and dangerous, with countless places where mistakes could easily happen: “In some ways, the stage even reminded me of Dakar.”

Before the second special stage, the team replaced the battery and says they remain determined to fight for stage medals. Although shorter in competitive distance, the second special stage certainly won’t be easy. Organizers warn that competitors will face narrow and winding tracks, sandy sections, and dunes with treacherous vegetation, where precise navigation will be crucial. Most of the day will consist of long liaison sections on the way to the San Rafael bivouac, meaning riders will have to carefully manage both their machinery and energy.

On Tuesday, competitors will tackle only 127 competitive kilometers, but the total distance for the day will reach 632 kilometers as the rally caravan moves from San Juan to San Rafael, where riders and teams will stay until Friday.