Despite the fatigue due to her illness, Sandra Gomez was working very hard this Dakar and fighting for the lead among women in very demanding stages, as seen in this edition of the Dakar Rally.

Unfortunately, yesterday Sandra could not arrive on time at the start of the special stage, in stage 6, and was left out of the standings. She could rejoin, out of the competition and without options to fight for victory, but she will not do it due to the harshness of the race and her physical condition. She has decided to return home.

Sandra Gómez:

"I'm not going to continue, because I came here to finish the race and, if I could, win the women's trophy, but I can neither win nor finish. My body is a wreck, I've tried to come as best as possible, but I also have to be realistic and consistent, love myself a little and recover a little, and get back to being at one hundred percent.

That's why I have to quit. I have no other choice. It bothers me a lot because there are a lot of people behind me, I have invested time, effort, people, family, friends, money, everything; and it hasn't worked out, but I'm sure we will come back because I have an impressive team of people behind me".

Sandra has been a heroine, for her fight, strength, and endurance, in the face of her physical conditions; and part of this Dakar she has already won.

The rest of the Rieju Team riders are still in the competition, very motivated to reach the finish line of the most difficult Dakar ever held in Saudi Arabia.