After 10 gruelling stages, challenging the mettle of riders, the 41st edition of the Dakar Rally ended on a high note. Beyond the winners of the rally, 179 riders successfully reached back to Lima at Magdalena beach, where it all started. The following photo gallery consists the closing podium ceremony of the event.
The riders at the end of Stage 10, exhausted to the core but also overjoyed with the completion of the rally.
The winner of the 2019 Dakar Rally, hailing from Australia, Toby Price KTM Factory Team. It was his fifth participation in Dakar and his second win after the first one in 2016.
KTM bagged the top three positions in overall ranking while cementing its 18th consecutive win in a row which is a commendable feat for the Austrian brand. With Toby in first place, Matthias Walkner took second place on the podium followed by Sam Sunderland in third who won the rally in 2017.
The Spaniard, Oriol Mena representing Hero MotoSports Team Rally completed the rally in ninth position with a top 10 finish in overall category. He completed the last stage of the rally in 17th position.
Giving the KTM riders tough resistance for the longest amount of time, Husqvarna’s Pablo Quintanilla began the final stage of the rally at second in overall rankings and just a minute behind Toby Price. Quintanilla decided to all out in the final stage with the aim to take the overall lead and finally winning the rally. Unfortunately, as uncompromising as the Dakar can be, the Chilean had a nasty fall in the initial section of the stage. Inspite having a fractured ankle, Quintanilla remounted on his bike and completed the stage, securing him the fourth position in overall rankings.
Representing Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team, Xavier De Soultrait completed the rally in sixth position overall while completing the stage in the tenth position.
Russian rider Anastasiya Nifontova relishing his moment on the podium stage on completion of the rally.
