Despres (Gauloises KTM) wins the stage, and Coma (Repsol KTM) is still leading, but first of all today's stage was not as difficult as it was described: A long stage of more than 800 kilometers, of course, almost all run in the Adraa valley, a dry riverbed that crosses the southern Moroccan region, some technical passages, and many rocks on the course, but this is household in this Country.
Isidre Esteve navigated almost all morning, but the main advantage of the work of the Spaniard was taken by his Gauloises KTM teammate Cyril Despres. At the finish Despres was first. Due to the different starting positions, Marc Coma suffered during today's special test but is still leading the race, but his previous advantage on Cyril Despres has been reduced to only one minute and a half. From here on, the race will most likely be characterized by this kind of alternating "leap frog" between the two leaders.
Isidre Esteve is now third, and apparently only the Spaniard and the Chilean Carlo De Gavardo could be in contention for the final victory with the actual leaders. The race is, of course, still very long, but we have to consider also that for the first time in the last few years it appears so balanced. Consider also that the first third of the race has been accomplished, and it was very demanding. From the first day in Portugalinto the southern stage of Morocco, it has been a very interesting battle.
Marc Coma was very calm at the finish. "When I knew the characteristics of the special test," said the Repsol KTM champion, "I once [saw] that nothing could change today. We all rode almost all the time together, only some time trying to push a little. My main goal was to reach the finish, maintaining the leadership. This morning we started very early, at four o' clock PM, and tomorrow we will leave Tan Tan at 1:00 Am. So it was also important to preserve our energies. From tomorrow I'm sure that the race will show a completely different face. The tomorrow's stage is a 'classic' of the Dakar, and we used to run this special test at maximum speed. Instead, due to the new rules, we'll have to [watch] our speed."
Jordi Arcarons, the team manager of Repsol KTM, enter the interview suggesting an important article of reflection: "You have to consider also two more things. In the recent past, this stage was run without any navigation problem. This year, you don't have any direct waypoint, so you have to take care when finding the right track. Also the temperature is increasing, and this is one of the main phantoms to be watched."
Due to persistent fog in the region of Tan Tan, the small town reached today by the rally, the aerial fleet of the organization was still blocked in Ouarzazate when the competitors reached the finish of the last liaison of the day. For this reason the race has been virtually shared in two blocks for a long morning flushed by this uneasiness. No results for the press, no information and no satellite communications. "This is Africa, this is the Dakar," said Etienne Lavigne, the headmaster of the race.
By the point of view of the pure race, the exploits of the champions are also the highlight of this tremendous challenge. To win is the main goal of the factories involved in the race, and their best riders works for it. However there is one other side of the Dakar, this one played by "man against desert" in a incredible adventure. This has been always one of the main themes of this special cast of adventure mixed with sport. The Dakar is also a long journey, or also the evolution of the ancient explorations in a modern rendering.
Each private rider plays this role in the larger context of the race. For all of them the main target is to reach the last finish line. As in a travel, they want to bring their bikes into the Rose Lake located near Dakar, and they fight hard for it. Privateer riders are often the unsung heroes who come in at night, repair their own bikes, heat a hasty dinner and thread into the sleeping bag. They are virtually alone against the immense difficulties of the race, but almost all of them are ready to help a momentary friend, giving him a liter of gasoline or push him in order to start a reluctant engine. That's the particular solidarity of the Dakar.
One of these privateer riders is Fabrizio Mugnaioli, a 44-year-old farm owner from Tuscany, Italy. We met him near the airplane that transports the metal cases, one for each rider. There the competitors can store everything they want, the only limit is the volume of the boxes. Typically, the sleeping bag and spare parts. Fabrizio is competing with an old KTM Rally Replica, a 2001 model that the late Fabrizio Meoni donated to him. The motorcycle is reverved as the reminder of a friend and a Champion who we will never forget.
Rankings: Fifth stage — Special: 350 km
Stage Results:
1. Despres (Gauloises KTM), 03:47:40h
2. Coma (Repsol KTM), + 03:41
3. Esteve Pujol (Gauloises KTM), + 05:18
4. Faria (KTM), + 08:14
5. De Gavardo (Repsol KTM), + 08:21
6. Caldecott (Repsol KTM), + 10:54
7. Casteu (Gauloises KTM) + 11:03
8. Ullevalseter (KTM), + 11:06
9. Sala (Repsol KTM), + 11:41
10. Fretigne (YAMAHA), + 13:01
11. Katrinak (KTM), + 16:20
12. Blais (Red Bull USAKTM), + 24:17
13. De Azevedo (KTM), + 25:14
14. Gau (Gauloises KTM), + 30:07
15. Farres Geull (YAMAHA), + 31:38
16. Grider (Red Bull USAKTM), + 31:57
17. AgraCarrera (YAMAHA), + 35:52
18. Street (KTM), + 36:41
19. Czachor (YAMAHA), + 39:16
20. Marchini (KTM), + 44:40
22. Viladoms (Repsol KTM), + 47:17
Overall Results:
1. Coma (Repsol KTM), 14:09:18h
2. Despres (Gauloises KTM), 14:10:43h, + 01:25
3. Esteve Pujol (Gauloises KTM), 14:15:46h, + 06:28
4. De Gavardo (Repsol KTM), 14:21:10h, + 11:52
6. Caldecott (Repsol KTM), 14:36:12h, + 26:54, Penalty: 02:00
5. Casteu (Gauloises KTM), 14:36:15h, + 26:57
7. Fretigne (YAMAHA), 14:41:22h, + 32:04
8. Sala (Repsol KTM), 14:49:40h, + 40:22
9. Ullevalseter (KTM), 14:51:50 h, + 42:32
10. Katrinak (KTM), 14:59:49 h, + 50:31
11. Blais (Red Bull USAKTM), 15:04:53h, + 55:35
12. Faria (KTM), 15:08:24h, +59:06, Penalty: 12:00
13. De Azevedo (KTM), 15:09:45h, + 01:00:27
14. Agra Carrera (YAMAHA), 15:15:04 h, + 01:05:46
15. Gau (Gauloises KTM), 15:15:51 h, + 01:06:33
16. Farres Guell (YAMAHA), 15:17:45 h, + 01:08:27
17. Street (KTM), 15:32:03 h, + 01:22:45
18. Amaral (KTM), 15:32:21h, + 01:23:03
19. Duclos (KTM), 15:32:35h, + 01:23:17
20. Rivera (KRM), 15:44:47h, +01:35:29
22. Grider (Red Bull USAKTM), 15:53:59h, + 01:44:41
27. Viladoms (Repsol KTM), 16:49:14h, + 02:39:56