Today the rally was supposed to have left Argentina, crossed the Andes mountains by road and then contested a short 247km special just over the Chilean border. However, the weather got the better of the ASO who were forced to cancel the crossing because the advance organisation vehicles (who precede the main event) were unable to cross the mountains the previous day. As a result the special stage was not contested and the competitors crossed the mountain in convoy.
The stage was split in two completely different challenges as the rally reaches the foothills of the Andes, with bikes and quads tackling 265km of sand dunes, dirt and a long section of rocky tracks, whilst the cars and trucks drove not only a different route but in a different direction on a 177km stage of sand dunes and dirt tracks. I have no idea why the bikers always get a harder time of it!
Magazine (2min):
The heat of the desert is a real challenge for everyone, it is important to stay hydrated.
Stage 5 Summary (3min):
The video gives different distance figures to the map I described above, so perhaps the stages were amended. Difficulties today for al-Attiyah.
Videos from the official Dakar YouTube channel / ASO.
Standings
Don’t read this until you’ve seen the videos.
Today – Bikes
Despres and Coma have made this their own battle, nobody else is even close. If you watched the profile of Mattheiu Lagrive the other day, I’m sorry to say he withdrew from the rally in this stage.
1. Despres (KTM)
2. Coma (KTM) +1m41s
3. Barreda Bort (Husqvarna) +12m42s
4. Svitko (KTM) +13m55s
5. Viladoms (KTM) +14m17s
Orlando Terranova (Toyota) who’d occasionally set top five stage times, was forced to withdraw today because of a huge argument with his co-driver, who refused to work with him any more! Apparently Terranova was running so close to the bikes he was almost knocking them over, and as a rider in other competitions his co-driver Grider didn’t take well to that. Just goes to show it isn’t just the terrain, temperature and dust that you have to deal with, it is temperament as well.
1. Holowcyc (MINI)
2. Gordon (Hummer) +1m01s
3. Peterhansel (MINI) +3m52s
4. Roma (MINI) +7m47s
5. Novitsky (MINI) +8m18s
Overall – Cars
1. Peterhansel (MINI)
2. Holowcyc (MINI) +4m18s
3. Roma (MINI) +10m39s
4. Gordon (Hummer) +13m32s
5. De Villiers (Toyota) +21m01s
Holowcyc up to 2nd, Gordon up a spot and De Villiers drops 3 places.
Finally, one of the top competitors in the trucks class, Nikolaev in the Kamaz, hoping to do well after the top two Kamaz drivers didn’t enter this year, was disqualified I believe either due to hitting a car competitor or for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The first 100km of the special stage sees competitors climb from 1000m to over 3000m in altitude, before descending back down again on this 326km stage. And this coming after an equally long road section in the morning. The special’s terrain is much the same as yesterday, mud, stones, and the occasional river crossing.
Magazine (2min):
There’s an electric car on the Dakar this year..
Stage 4 Summary (3min30s):
The only thing missing from the video updates is interviews with the main players, you don’t get to see the personalities, and personalities are half of what makes sport so interesting. The official channel has the stage winner but that’s it. I’m sure there are other videos around online if you want to take a look.
Videos from the official Dakar YouTube channel / ASO.
Standings
Don’t read this until you’ve seen the videos.
Today – Bikes
Marc Coma fastest again, after his error yesterday he recovered 2 minutes on Despres. This race is a battle between these two men.
Trouble for the Hummers, the MINIs and Toyotas capitalise.
1. Peterhansel (MINI)
2. Terranova (Toyota) +5m19s
3. De Villiers (Toyota) +6m42s
4. Roma (MINI) +7m35s
5. Holowcyc (MINI) +10m51s
Overall – Cars
1. Peterhansel (MINI)
2. De Villiers (Toyota) +5m41s
3. Roma (MINI) +6m44s
4. Holowcyc (MINI) +8m10s
5. Gordon (Hummer) +16m23s
The breakdown for Al-Attiyah forced teammate (and team boss) Gordon to stop, since their repairs truck was delayed and hadn’t yet caught the Dakar convoy. Their only saving grace was that this stage was tough for everybody, so Gordon still lies 5th. Peterhansel impressively moves from a 2m41s deficit to a 5m41s lead! De Villiers is also doing well in a Toyota which is still in the first year of development.
Nearly 300km of road driving opened the day before the competitors tackled the timed special stage: cars and trucks raced 208km but the bikes and quads took a different route over 270km including an extra summit to climb, a long day for them. The terrain on the SS for all vehicles was rocky mud tracks all the way.
Magazine (2min):
A profle of the French rider Matthieu Lagrive (#97 Yamaha), a Superbike racer who has made the transition to dirt biking for the Dakar.
Stage 3 Summary (3min):
And a navigation mistake from moto leader Marc Coma who followed the car route for a short while, such are the perils of being the opening rider. My favourite thing about these videos is the French pronunciation of ‘Hummer’ and ‘Robby Gordon’.
Videos from the official Dakar YouTube channel / ASO.
Standings
Don’t read this until you’ve seen the videos.
Today – Bikes
Big time gaps today, except for the 2s gap between 2nd and 3rd!
1. Roma (MINI)
2. Holowcyc (MINI) +1m09s
3. Al-Attiyah (Hummer) +1m29s
4. De Villiers (Toyota) +1m33s
5. Gordon (Hummer) +2m08s
Overall – Cars
1. Holowcyc (MINI)
2. Gordon (Hummer) +54s
3. De Villiers (Toyota) +1m40s
4. Roma (MINI) +1m50s
5. Peterhansel (MINI) +2m41s
Big gaps among the bike contingent (and quads and trucks too), but the cars are very close together and the order is changing daily! Lots of drama still yet to unfold, the challenge in all classes is not just to beat the competition but to beat the rally.
I Watch Too Much Racing 