Dakar stage cut short

Dakar organisers have decided to shorten today’s stage by over 200km because visibility is as low as 300 metres.

Stage 11 from Atar to Kiffa was expected to be the hardest yet and with the weather continuing to get worse, race officials decided to stop the stage at the second checkpoint, which is on the 400km mark.

By 11:30am European time only six riders had crossed the first checkpoint with Meoni, Despres, Esteve, Frétigné, Coma all arriving together, putting Coma in the lead so far. Alfie Cox was the sixth man across the line, riding on his own slightly behind the group.