Loeb and Chicherit endure within the hell of the second stage and pave the best way for Qatar, who completed first, and the Spanish, third
A victory for Qatar Nasser Al-Attiyahhell for the french Sbastien Loeb, the rocky second stage of the Dakar Rally, left scars and an enormous distinction between the present champion and one of the crucial critical contenders this 12 months, the Frenchman from the Prodrive workforce. Within the check that takes place in Saudi Arabia, this second stage, of 589 km, with 430 timed km, was very stony and visibly tough.
The primary to achieve the end line on a desert plain surrounded by canyons did so greater than an hour behind the indicative time estimated by the organizers to cowl the space. Consequence, Nasser Al Attiyah prevailed with a bonus of 5 minutes and 5 seconds over Carlos Sainzwho got here third, whereas the Dutchman Erik Van Loon (Overdrive) was second, 14 seconds behind the Qatari and four-time winner of the Dakar.
For Prodrive, the stage was a catastrophe. Two of its pilots, Sbastien Loeb and Guerlain Chicherit They performed a flat on a number of events, and the assistance of his associate Orlando Terranova was of no use. “It was hell all through the timed part,” Loeb declared, getting out of his automobile, with out the hood of the automotive, torn off in an influence.
the tires
“We had a flat thrice and needed to restore a tire with the wicks. As for the drive, it was attention-grabbing. We did our greatest to drive slowly, however there’s nothing to do, it would not go well with our tyres in any respect.” added the Frenchman.
“I not take into consideration the final classification. Seeing the route of the particular, I believed that we needed to end it even when we misplaced half an hour. However we’ve got not succeeded, so I give it up for misplaced”, he concluded. On the other facet, the Qatari identified that “it was good!” and solely click on as soon as.
“It was time to assault and have a great stage. There have been a number of stones, the navigation was not simple, I believe many riders may have issues. We had punctures at first, however then we have been very cautious on the rocky sections after which we attacked on the sandy areas. I believed that the start of the rally could be a lot simpler, in actuality it was very tough, however the group has accomplished a great job”, declared the winner of the stage.
“Will probably be a pleasant battle”, predicts Al Attiyah, who’s now second within the normal classification, 2 minutes and 12 seconds behind the Spaniard Sainz. Loeb is now greater than an hour and twenty minutes late.
Klein area in bikes
On bikes, the American Mason Klein they gained the second stage, regardless of a penalty, after this present day of 430 timed kilometers between the shores of the Crimson Sea and Al-Ula. Behind the KTM rider, Sbastien Bühler (GER/Hero) took second place within the day’s occasion, 1 minute 9 seconds behind the American, adopted by Skyler Howes (USA/Husqvarna) 1 minute and 13 seconds behind Klein.
the aussie daniel sanders (GasGas), who was the chief of the stage, lastly relented and completed ninth, 3 minutes and 24 seconds behind the primary, whereas the American Ricky Brabec (Honda), winner of the primary stage, was fifteenth this Monday, with a delay of 8 minutes and 19 seconds.
Klein due to this fact took first place within the normal classification, with a 1 minute and 41 second benefit over Toby Worth (AUS/KTM) and a pair of minutes and three seconds forward of the Spanish Joan Barreda (Honda), who was penalized this Monday with one minute.
The second stage, 589 km, of which 430 timed, is the primary of a collection of three consecutive and took the members from the camp arrange from the beginning on December 31 on the shores of the Crimson Sea, to Al-Ula, additional to the north. This Tuesday, rocks and canyons will as soon as once more be on the programme, for a stage of 670 km (together with 447 timed) to the shores of Ha’il.