The organisers of the Dakar had no choice but to cancel stage 9.
The ninth stage of the event was set to comprise a 755km trek from Tupiza in Bolivia to Salta in Argentina, including a 242km competitive section.
Heavy rains have impacted the rally since it arrived in Bolivia late last week, with the weather turning areas of the overnight bivouac at Tupiza to mud.
Weather conditions in the area in the last few days are preventing assistance crews from refurbishing race vehicles for tomorrow’s stage after the demanding marathon stage. The field of the Dakar will therefore head to the Salta bivouac by road. The rally will resume with stage 10 from Salta to Belén.
