Branch opens Dakar Rally with stage win
Kabelo Boranabi | Saturday January 6, 2024 21:36
Branch was excellent on the bike in the prologue stage held yesterday as he finished the 157km run in third position. The prologue is the shortest stretch of the 12 stages of the Dakar Rally and today Branch tested the 541km stretch of Stage One.
The Kalahari Ferrari as Branch is affectionately called, was among the leading pack from the start. He went to the front of the pack just before the special section, but stopped to assist a fellow competitor, Tosha Schareina of Spain, who had a crash midway through the race.
The local biker lost 25 minutes during the course and returned on the bike to finish 13th on the day. He was however reimbursed his lost time and went to claim the stage win.
Branch currently leads the race's general standings and has a started his quest to claim a first Dakar Rally title on a high note. Branch returns on the bike tomorrow for the 655km Stage Two of the Dakar Rally.
This is a fourth career fourth Dakar Rally stage win for Branch and he is among the favourites to win the race.