Dakar 2014
Thursday 16 January 2014
Eleventh st
age: Antofagasta – El Salvador
Link Section: 144 km – Special: 605 km - Total: 749 km
This eleventh stage was long, almost as long as yesterday’s, running from Antofagasta to El Salvador in the uplands so as to escape the Comanchaca (condensation caused by the proximity of the desert, the Ocean and the Cordillera of the Andes) which often settles over the area in the mornings, grounding the helicopters.
Setting off in 5th, Marc Coma (KTM) again proved himself the boss of the 2014 Dakar, winning his fourth Special despite a minor crash in the first kilometres from which he emerged unscathed. The rider from Catalonia then joined up with Cyril Després (Yamaha) at the start of the dunes and the two men rode together up to the finish. At the end of this long day, Coma left Barreda (Honda), his closest rival, 52' behind in the general rankings.
The French rider Després who came second in the Special has been keen as mustard for several days now, clawing his way back to 6th on the leader board. He says that he has given his all and will have no regrets.
Behind the two top guns, Olivier Pain (Yamaha) put in a fine performance to finish 5'28 behind Coma and is now just 14' behind Jordi Viladoms overall. Joan Barreda, who rode out first in the Special, crashed at km250, breaking his navigation gear. He had 350 km left to ride by eye and wound up 5th behind Viladoms, losing 8'12 to Marc Coma.
The Dakar is certainly not over yet. Tomorrow will be a difficult stage where anything can happen, espcially with Viladoms, Pain, Rodrigues and Després locked in combat for the third step of the podium.
At 17h local time, les quads had not yet passed CP7 but at CP6, Husseini was ahead of Gallegos and Karyakin. Sonik was in 5th followed by Casale. Camelia Liparoti was in 12th position.
Communication AMADLOZI - amadlozi.blogspot.com