Reigning champion Al-Rajhi abandons Dakar Rally / Photo: Giuseppe CACACE - AFP
-
Vote count begins in Alberta secession referedum, testing Canada unity
-
How recent controversies have rocked the US death penalty debate
-
Ukraine claims US missile holdup as Trump floats summit without Zelensky
-
Adams facing long injury layoff as Rams' problems deepen
-
Detained Suu Kyi receives UK royal package: Myanmar govt
-
US judge orders Saudi engineer held in OpenAI case
-
Japan successfully launches probe in historic Mars moon mission
-
Maddison sparkles as Spurs end Premier League winless run
-
US to auction deep sea mining leases off American Samoa
-
Maddison sparkles on Spurs return as win drought ends
-
Australian lawmaker hurt in car attack underwent surgery overnight: PM
-
Trump says ready to meet with Putin and Xi in China
-
Japan launches rocket for potential world first Mars moon mission
-
The young lawmaker making Brazil's Lula 'king of the selfie'
-
Ethiopia PM warns Eritrea of 'severe consequences' if supports enemies
-
Christiane Amanpour to leave CNN after 43 years
-
Boland grabs opportunity for Australia as South Africa struggle in second Test
-
Ronaldo handed 30-day suspension after walking out on Portugal
-
Ronaldo handed 30-day suspension: Portuguese federation
-
Netanyahu basks in Trump endorsement week before election
-
France announces curfews as government grapples with unrest
-
Saudi airport closure disrupts life in kingdom's capital
-
Boland sets pace as South Africa struggle
-
Ramaphosa tells South Africa to prepare for loss of US-Africa trade deal
-
Ukraine on back foot as Kremlin moots US, China meeting
-
France presses resale platforms to remove 'stolen' goods after unrest
-
'Stay home!': Tourists find themselves in a France convulsed by protests
-
Yamal v PSG: Ballon d'Or backdrop to Champions League showdown
-
Kenyan cult leader guilty on all charges over 191 starvation deaths
-
Araujo says too soon to talk about permanent Liverpool move
-
Eagles star Hurts to miss rest of NFL season: reports
-
US wants to be 'strong partner' for central Asia: Rubio
-
Oil-rich Alberta votes on Canada breakup
-
'Special' to face friend Perez in Champions League, says Liverpool's Iraola
-
Israel announces arrests after West Bank settler attacks on Westerners
-
Monitor says Indonesia fires have burned nearly two million hectares
-
Guehi insists players have 'trust and belief' in Man City after charges
-
French PM says could declare state of emergency over unrest 'if needed'
-
UN climate panel head wants swift end to deadlock over key scientific report
-
Albanian PM warns of 'red line' after days of unrest
-
PM calls for curfews in France as govt grapples with unrest
-
Putin, Xi and Trump could meet at APEC summit: Kremlin
-
Man City's Semenyo out for up to eight weeks
-
Microsoft exits data centre deal in blow to UK AI ambitions
-
Australian lawmaker critically hurt in 'violent' vehicle attack
-
European stocks retreat as France violence spreads
-
England women's coach Wiegman signs two-year contract extension
-
North Korea warns 'grave situation' prevailing along border
-
Louvre blocked as France grapples with unrest
-
Raya proud of Arsenal's 'incredible' reaction after third straight win
Reigning champion Al-Rajhi abandons Dakar Rally
Title-holder Yazeed Al-Rajhi was forced to pull out of the Dakar Rally due to mechanical problems, organisers said on Wednesday.
"Hit by technical issues, Yazeed Al-Rajhi has announced he will withdraw from the stage at km 234," organisers said in a brief update.
"The 2025 Dakar winner sees his overall hopes disappear and will not be able to defend his title this year."
The 44-year-old Saudi had already struggled since the race began this week and was languishing down in 19th place early on Wednesday.
Last year's surprise winner suffered mechanical issues at the worst possible time as Wednesday and Thursday form the first marathon stage, meaning he would not be able to receive mechanical assistance for his Toyota Hilux late on Wednesday at the end of the 452km special stage.
Billionaire Al-Rahji, who comes from one of Saudi Arabia's richest families, has had a tough time since winning the 2025 Dakar Rally.
In April he crashed badly during a race in Jordan, fracturing several vertebrae, keeping him off course for several months.
Meanwhile, South African Henk Lategan, in a Toyota, claimed the overall lead after winning Wednesday's stage in 4hr 47min 08sec.
That was more than seven minutes quicker than Nasser Al-Attiyah, a five-time winner of the Dakar Rally, and Lategan now leads the Qatari by almost four minutes.
T.Ibrahim--SF-PST