Cyril Despres started today's stage, but with a heavily taped shoulder. The KTM Gauloises rider put all his courage and heart into this race. Despres also took the start of the special test of 499 kilometers, one of the longest of the race, and maybe one of the most difficult. Protected by his teammate Michel Gau, the incredible Frenchman gritted through intolerable pain and ran with the lead group. Despres pushed himself beyond the pain and crossed the dunes of the very hard section. At kilometer 257 he was signaled as stopped, but the reigning Champion of the Dakar was not defeated by yesterday's injury. He only reduced his speed in order to check the situation.
The story doesn't end there. Despres regained some positions, and at CP2, the French champion was less than 20 minutes down, and only 30 at the finish—without any doubt, an exceptional exploit. The blue bird, even though one of his wings is broken, is still flying.
Carlo De Gavardo, yesterday's winner of the special, started last because of the reversed starting order. Despite this, the Chilean was still leading at the first check point, then at the second of today's special test. In the final section of the special test, the "Condor of Welken" pushed in order to reduce his disadvantage from Marc Coma, and also fell coming down from a dune, but the finish was near, and also the second consecutive victory for the Repsol KTM Factory Team Rider.
The third side of today's stage was the race for the lead. Repsol KTM Team-sponsored Marc Coma started this Dakar with the potential for a strong duel with his main rival, Cyril Despres. For this reason his tactic was to stay very focused with the aim of not making any mistakes. As usual, every rider has his special characteristics, and the best way to take advantage of this is to wait for the right day to attack. Yesterday's stage perhaps was one of them, but the obligatory speed limit troubled the intentions of the Spaniard. Then the accident of Despres changed the "geography" of the possibilities. Coma perfectly managed his resources, and also one of the most regular: no mistakes, no penalties, no falls. He was simply waiting for the best moment to attack. As of today, he is still waiting. His second place in today's special test gives him more of an advantage in the stages to come.
For instance, Atar, the seventh stage of the race, was completed for the Repsol KTM Team with a third place by Giovanni Sala. The Italian is now 5th overall.
Two spectacular accidents occurred to two top riders: David Fretigné and the American Andy Grider. No serious consequences, but for the promising American of the Red Bull KTM Team his Dakar effort has ended on the helicopter of the organizers.
Double trouble. A privateer rider must accomplish many things in order to find the solution of the difficult puzzle of the Dakar. For a factory rider, the most difficult challenge is to stay at the top and make decisions in a split moment. Both private and official riders have heavy jobs. But which job is the heaviest in a race such as the Dakar Rally? Perhaps we can help you to find this answer.
Take a look at the job of a riders mechanic. One never knows if the mechanic ever slept during the night or not. Then they depart silently for the next stage in military fashion. The most difficult is to find the starting point of the their day. In a chasing order, they must attend all of the daily motorcycle controls and repairs if something is broken. Then they have to re-organize the assistance truck in order to reach the following stage, of course when all other people are sleeping, the mechanics are still working. They eat something, always quickly, then they crawl into their sleeping bag for no more than two or three hours, with an early wake-up pending. The last control of the bike, then their rider, they warm up of the engine, and give the last advice to the leaving competitor. Finally they can have a singular rest: the ceremonious act of cleaning their hands. A long, reflexive operation, which adds balance to the thier day. But their truck is also warming-up, and the thumping of a running engine seems to claim their attention. Ok, we can go...
Rankings: Special: 499 km
Stage Results:
1. De Gavardo (Repsol KTM), 06:28:11h
2. Coma (Repsol KTM), + 01:27
3. Sala (Repsol KTM), + 02:00
4. Esteve Pujol (Gauloises KTM), + 04:29
5. Ullevalseter (KTM), + 13:56
6. De Azevedo (KTM), + 17:12
7. Caldecott (Repsol KTM), + 20:28
8. Fretigne (YAMAHA), + 23:12
9. Despres (Gauloises KTM), +30:23
10. Bethys (HONDA), + 32:29
11. Casteu (Gauloises KTM) + 32:34
12. Blais (Red Bull USAKTM), + 33:41
13. Farres Geull (YAMAHA), + 34:37
14. Czachor (YAMAHA), + 36:29
15. Katrinak (KTM), + 36:38
16. Rodrigues (YAMAHA), + 37:30
17. Vinters (KTM), + 40:20
18. Knuiman (YAMAHA), + 40:29
19. Stanovnik (KTM), + 40:47
20. Street (KTM), +46:45
22. Gau (Gauloises KTM), + 47:22
Overall Results:
1. Coma (Repsol KTM), 24:45:23 h
2. De Gavardo (Repsol KTM), 24:49:53 h, + 04:30
3. Esteve Pujol (Gauloises KTM), 24:52:50h, + 07:27
4. Despres (Gauloises KTM), 25:18:02h, + 32:39
5. Sala (Repsol KTM), 25:23:46 h, + 38:23
6. Caldecott (Repsol KTM), 25:32:07 h, + 46:44, Penalty: 02:00
7. Ullevalseter (KTM), 25:40:00 h, + 54:37
8. Fretigne (YAMAHA), 25:41:36 h, + 56:13
9. De Azevedo (KTM), 26:07:40 h, + 01:22:17 h
10. Casteu (Gauloises KTM), 26:14:41 h, + 01:29:18 h
11. Katrinak (KTM), 19:13:05h, + 57:20
12. Blais (Red Bull USA KTM), 19:17:56 h, + 01:02:11 h
13. Gau (Gauloises KTM), 26:59:59 h, + 02:14:36 h
14. Duclos (KTM), 27:05:50 h, + 02:20:27 h
15. Farres Guell (YAMAHA), 19:42:26h, + 01:26:41 h
16. Czachor (YAMAHA), 27:20:12 h, +02:34:49 h
17. Street (KTM), 28:13:06, + 03:27:43
18. Stanovnik (KTM), 28:13:28 h, + 03:28:05 h
19. Knuiman (YAMAHA), 28:14:23 h, + 03:29:00 h
20. Bethys (HONDA), 28:25:56 h, + 03:40:33 h