Dakar 2018:Sainz takes second win as Peterhansel suffers setback on muddy Bolivian tracks
Tough mudders!
Stage 7 took the 2018 Dakar Rally from La Paz to Uyuni in 425 fast-paced kilometers.
After enjoying a rest day in the Bolivian capital on Friday, the field took off for a ‘marathon stage’ where
no outside assistance is allowed. With their crews in Tupiza, the competitors have to survive the day –
and tomorrow – on their own.
Not only that, but the mud caused by the rain turned the day into a mechanical mess, seeing
Peterhansel lose the overall lead after breaking his car’s suspension.
Car
Having won on Thursday, Carlos Sainz started first today – and finished first. But it wasn’t plain sailing in
between with the Team Peugot Total driver quickly overtaken by his teammate and 13-time Dakar
champion Stéphane Peterhansel.
That was until Peterhansel destroyed his shock absorber and rear suspension, losing 1h45 in the
process. The third Peugeot driver Cyril Despres, who lost all hopes of overall victory on Tuesday with a
broken wheel, stopped to help Peterhansel repair his 3008 DKR.
Today’s winner and the new overall leader, Sainz eventually finished ahead of the Toyota drivers Giniel
de Villiers (+12’05”) and Nasser Al-Attiyah (+14’19”).
Sainz said: “It was quite difficult in the beginning, with a lot of hors-piste and drifting. Afterwards we had
good roads. It’s a matter of surviving; there is still a long way to go. Of course now it’s a bit different, but
we need to focus and get out of problems.”
Peterhansel said: “I don’t know why but I went to the side of the track and there was an incredibly violent
shock, I didn’t see the stone coming. It ripped the entire rear part of the car. We destroyed everything.
The car is a bit diminished, we cannibalized Cyril’s car, which we left over there. We stayed 1h50 doing
mechanics. Anyway, I’m not playing my career here so I will keep smiling. There is no physical injury.
But the moral is a bit hurt and so is the 3008.”
Bike
Thursday’s winner and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Antoine Méo opened the road today, only to
be quickly overtaken by a masterful Joan Barreda. The Spaniard took the win, followed by Adrien Van
Beveren – the new overall leader – in second and Kevin Benavides in third. 2016 Dakar winner Toby
Price took four.
In 19th place today and 19th overall, Laia Sanz arrived in Uyuni her bike covered of dirt. The KTM
athlete said: “It was a very physical stage, with lots of sand at the start and tons of mud later on. It’s a
shame that I got stuck in the mud in the end, I lost a bit of time, but I’m satisfied. I’m just happy to be
here with no problems.”
Quad
A Yamaha triumph today with Axel Dutrie first, Marcelo Medeiros second and the 2014 winner Ignacio
Casale in third place. Coming from Chile, Casale maintains a solid overall lead.
