Tight prior to final

STAGE 12: AREQUIPA - NASCA
Road connection: 259 km - Special Stage: 245 km – Total: 505 km The village of Nasca, well-known in the world due to its lines traced in the ground more than 2000 years ago, receives the 12th stage of the Dakar. Riders slept at Camana, 150 km from Arequipa and this morning had a shorter road connection than cars to get to the start of the special stage. The timed section, of 245 kilometers, crossed very difficult dunes. 106 bikes and 13 quads were admitted to take the start of the special. On top, suspense for the victory continues. Cyril Despres started in front of Gerard Farres and Marc Coma attacked from the beginning focused in navigation to avoid any possible mistake. The Catalonian takes another stage win 2’43’’ over Barreda and Viladoms. Depres lost 3’57’’ on Coma but he will start tomorrow with the advantage of being 4th for the last long special section of the Dakar 2012. “The special was amazing, I expected that Marc (Coma) was going to take back some minutes, but the special was great. It was one of the most beautiful stages I´ve done in the Dakar. Tomorrow I start 4th. Nothing is written but Marc will open the road tomorrow, and that is an advantage,” says Despres. Marc Coma, leads the overall standings 1’35’’ over Despres. “I focused in navigation and then I attacked in the second part to get on Cyril. Tomorrow everything can happen, it won´t be easy.” Some riders were victims of “vapor lock” due to the high temperatures. Mathieu Serradori, Jes Munk… Olivier Pain was “touched” by a car and finishes 35th today. Farres, second yesterday, had many falls in the dunes which obligated him to lower his pace and crossed the finish line 20th. In quads, once again it was Marcos Patronelli who signs another victory in front of his brother Alejandro, Maffei and La Fuente. Chilean rider Casale stopped at kilometer 105 and was able to continue and finished 5th in front of Tonetti.