The 2018 Dakar Rally took a big step towards the finish line in Córdoba as the convoy crossed the Super Fiambalá stage. Some race leaders lost their position while there were plenty of late attacks for further podium places. And spare a thought for the bikers who have reached the midway point of their second marathon stage of this Dakar.
Yesterday Toby Price (AUS) suffered a major dent to his hopes of regaining the Dakar crown he won in 2016, but he bounced back today with a dominate stage win. It was the Red Bull KTM Factory Team rider’s first stage win of this Dakar as he looks to salvage a podium finish from a tough race.
« We had a 280-kilometre special and after the cars and bikes in front had gone through the sand was really soft in places. It wasn’t the easiest day that’s for sure. » – Toby Price
Price’s KTM team-mates Antoine Méo (FRA) and Matthias Walkner (AUT) also enjoyed good days. Méo was third on the stage despite crashing near the finish while Walkner was fifth and continues to hold a 32-minute advantage over Kevin Benavides (ARG) in second place. Price is now third overall following today’s retirement of Joan Barreda (ESP) and the Australian will continue to push himself up the podium places.
« Every day can change everything. I have to stay focused day after day. I don’t think so much about victory. » – Matthias Walkner
Also enjoying a boost up the rankings today was Laia Sanz (ESP) with 17th place on the stage elevating her to 12th overall. With three days of racing remaining Sanz has a shot to beat her best ever Dakar finish of 9th in 2015.
In the car race the stage win went to Bernhard Ten Brinke (NLD) who led home the three Peugeot 3008DKR Maxis left in the race by over four minutes. Cyril Despres (FRA) was second on the stage, even with a puncture to deal with, and race leader Carlos Sainz (ESP) finished third.
« Fiambalá is a classic Dakar special. This is where I lost the Dakar in 2009. I started the stage with a margin of 30 minutes and ended up in a hole, so it’s great to put it behind me. » – Carlos Sainz
The next four fastest drivers home were Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA), Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT), Giniel De Villiers (ZAF) and Kuba Przygonski (POL). There was little change to the general car classification with Sainz’s lead over second place Peterhansel remaining at over 50 minutes. Al-Attiyah’s push forward was dampened by suffering two punctures.
« Fiambalá is a special place and it’s now the capital of Dakar in Argentina. It’s always tough here and the sand is really tricky. » – Cyril Despres
There was pressure applied to quad bike category leader since stage one Ignacio Casale (CHI) on the route to Chilecito. Argentinian rookie Nicolás Cavigliasso (ARG) has jumped into second overall and brought Casale’s overall lead down to around 90 minutes for the first time in a week.
The lead that did change hands on the Super Fiambalá stage was in the truck division. Eduard Nikolaev (RUS) had seemed in total control of his category at the Rest Day but during the second week he has conceded his lead to Federico Villagra (ARG). The Iveco trucker now leads his Team Kamaz Master counterpart by over 16 minutes with stages running out at the 2018 Dakar.
Tomorrow sees the Dakar convoy move onto it’s penultimate bivouac as the competition transfers to San Juan. The bikes have the second half of their marathon stage to deal with as they join the quads on a 288km timed special. For the cars and trucks it’s a mammoth 523km against the clock with the navigation challenges as tough as ever.
Top 3 Results
Overall standings after stage 11 – Cars 1. CARLOS SAINZ (ESP) PEUGEOT 36:16:27 2. STEPHANE PETERHANSEL (FRA) PEUGEOT +01:00:45 3. NASSER AL-ATTIYAH (QAT) TOYOTA +01:24:02
Overall standings after stage 11 – Bikes 1. MATTHIAS WALKNER (AUT) KTM 36:33:37 2. KEVIN BENAVIDES (ARG) HONDA +00:32:00 3. TOBY PRICE (AUS) KTM +00:39:17
Overall standings after stage 11 – Quads 1. IGNACIO CASALE (CHI) YAMAHA 46:04:20 2. NICOLAS CAVIGLIASSO (ARG) YAMAHA +01:34:13 3. JEREMIAS GONZALEZ FERIOLI (ARG) YAMAHA +02:09:15
Overall standings after stage 11 – Trucks 1. FEDERICO VILLAGRA (ARG) IVECO 39:49:27 2. EDUARD NIKOLAEV (RUS) KAMAZ +00:16:07 3. SIARHEI VIAZOVICH (BLR) MAZ +03:22:22
Press release Red Bull
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