Helder Rodrigues claims Calama

Tuesday 13 January
9th leg: Iquique - Calama
Link section: 51 km – Special: 450 km – Link section: 37 km – Total: 538 km The Dakar has arrived at its last bivouac on Chilean soil, in Calama, in traditional style amid winds and fesh fesh… The special that linked Iquique to the mining town of Calama was no walk in the park. The riders arrived very much exercised, not only by the day’s selective section but also by the fatigue of the marathon stage, the two days passed at altitude with a bivouac at 3500 m and the tension of the problems caused by the salt that destroyed all the electric cables.  This morning, yesterday’s winner Pablo Quintanilla (KTM) had to navigate first in the dunes. The terrain was not very readable because of the fog and, to make matters worse, the tiresome fesh fesh quickly set in.  On top of all that, the navigation was very tricky and many riders got lost or missed a waypoint.  Helder Rodrigues (Honda) who started out way down the field, behind Barreda (Honda), got his mojo back and, by focusing on the navigation, took the stage victory ahead of team mate  Paulo Goncalves (Honda). Despite turning back once to find a way point, Goncalves made up over 3’ on Marc Coma (KTM), moving up to second place on the leader board.  But Marc Coma has the resources and experience to deal with this sort of situation:  “This morning, it was difficult”, he says, “as there was some fog in the dunes and I made a navigation mistake. Then I went on the attack but having said that, I take the race one day at a time”. Barreda, who is no longer in the running for the title, came in 4th ahead of Pizzolito (Honda), Svitko (KTM), Walkner (KTM), who crashed in the fesh fesh, Price (KTM), Quintanilla, who is keeping a cool head, and the lone Yamaha survivor Olivier Pain.  The Dakar is far from over. There are still 4 legs to go including a marathon tomorrow at Cachi with a passage through the Abra del Acai at over 5000 metres.  In quad, Victor Manuel Gallegos wins the special again ahead of Rafal Sonik and Sergio Lafuente.  Overall, the Pole is still in the lead with a lead of 4’over Casale and 52' over Lafuente.