Overview
- Benavides arrived in Salta to an official reception led by Governor Gustavo Sáenz and a rain-soaked public caravan from Martín Miguel de Güemes Airport to Microestadio Delmi.
- He told supporters the moment he learned he had won was the happiest of his life and said he now plans to recover after days without sleep.
- The overall was decided by the smallest margin in Dakar history as he clawed back more than three minutes in the 105 km final stage to win by two seconds over Ricky Brabec.
- He recounted a pivotal setback on Stage 10 when his bike was buried in a dune for about four and a half minutes, and he competed after a fractured clavicle, knee damage in Morocco and a shakedown meniscus injury.
- Argentina’s strong showing included Kevin Benavides’ Challenger debut with three stage wins and seventh overall, plus a Challenger podium for Nicolás Cavigliasso and Valentina Pertegarini in third.