The heat got turned up at the 2018 Dakar Rally on stage 10 with drama in the bike race taking centre stage. On a day when temperatures got up to 43 degrees Celsius the fierce competition in the two-wheel division became too much for some. Keeping his cool out in the dunes today was Matthias Walkner (AUT) as he took a huge step towards winning his first Dakar.
At the start of the day the gap between bike race leader Adrien Van Beveren (FRA) and second placed rider Kevin Benavides (ARG) stood at a mere 22 seconds. After stage 10 things are very different because new leader Walkner has an advantage of nearly 40 minutes over Joan Barreda (ESP), the new owner of the runners-up spot.
The routes in Argentina are always difficult so I know I have to pay very close attention. Sometimes this means I slow down a little to make sure I’m getting the navigation right. Matthias Walkner
Red Bull KTM Factory Team rider Walkner gained his overall lead thanks to some sure footed navigation on the stage between Salta and Belén. Walkner and Van Beveren were the only riders to pick the right path with frontrunners Benavides and Barreda plus KTM riders Toby Price (AUS) and Antoine Méo (FRA) all taking a wrong turn.
We all made a mistake and we couldn’t get back on track. Eventually the helicopter came to direct us back to the start. We lost lots of time today and a chance to win, but that is the Dakar. At least we came back safe. Antoine Méo
It looked like the day’s events would leave Van Beveren in the overall lead with Walkner promoted to second and then a significant gap to the third place rider. Then, just 3 kilometres from the end of the stage, Van Beveren suffered a heavy crash that ended his race. Walkner went on to win the stage, take over top spot in the general classification and become a firm favourite to win his first Dakar title.
After a tricky start to today’s stage which included a crash, things turned around for Laia Sanz (ESP) with 11th place on the stage promoting her to 15th overall.
In the second part of the stage I did all the navigation well so it was not a completely bad day after my crash. Laia Sanz
There was a 41st stage win of Stéphane Peterhansel’s (FRA) Dakar career in the car category as he set the fastest time for the second consecutive day.
We chose our moments to push, always aware of trying to avoid mistakes. Stéphane Peterhansel
The Peugeot driver leap ahead of Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) to take second overall. Al-Attiyah’s Toyota team-mate Giniel de Villiers (ZAF) scored second on stage 10 to move closer to the overall podium.
I think this is one of the toughest Dakars we have done in South America for sure. The days are long, we’re finishing the stage at 20 to seven and have been on the road since 6am this morning. Giniel de Villiers
Meanwhile, Peterhansel’s Peugeot team-mate Carlos Sainz (ESP) still leads the race by a handsome margin of 50m35s.
At this moment everything is OK. The plan for tomorrow is to go nice and steady like we did today with no major issues. Carlos Sainz
There was a nice display of teamwork from Cyril Despres (FRA) who waited for fellow Team Peugeot Total member Sainz at the start of today’s stage. Despres then stayed close to Sainz just in case his help was required during the 373 kilometres of timed special stage.
Carlos was really fast at the end so we had to let him go after following him all day. On those big, dry rivers Carlos is really, really fast. Cyril Despres
Another third place stage position takes quad biker Ignacio Casale (CHI) a step closer to regaining the title he won in 2014. The Chilean quad biker leads his category by close to two hours with four days of racing still ahead.
Truck race leader Eduard Nikolaev (RUS) conceded some time to second placed Federico Villagera (ARG) today, but still has a firm grip on the contest. Team Kamaz Master trucker Nikolaev will benefit from a starting position on tomorrow’s stage that will help him claw back those minutes lost on stage 10 should he wish to push.
As if the bike race hasn’t been tough enough already this year, tomorrow is the start of another marathon stage for competitors on the two wheels. Stage 11 itself is the Dakar route which has become affectionately known as ‘Super Fiambalá’ in recent years. Expect plenty more plot twists in the full glare of sun as we wind our way through Argentina.
Quotes
Matthias Walkner: Throughout this Dakar the navigation has been really, really tricky. It’s so important to not make mistakes and stay on the right route. I controlled my speed and checked each note on the roadbook. The routes in Argentina are always difficult so I know I have to pay very close attention. Sometimes this means I slow down a little to make sure I’m getting the navigation right. I don’t ever want to win races because of somebody crashing, like Adrien has done today. I prefer everyone to stay on two wheels.
Toby Price: It’s one of those days you want to forget. A bit tough, but that’s the way it is. I’ve just got to try and see what the rest of the week will bring now. It was a bit of a hot one and I didn’t have much fluid, so I’m a bit drained and dehydrated. The notes all seemed to say 150km and the rio we got into started at 150km. We thought we’d got it right, but obviously not. I don’t know… the roadbook is a bit average at the moment but that’s the way it is. For us it’s pretty much done. We’ll just keep plugging away each day and see what happens. You never know, but it’s not looking too good That’s the way it is. »
Antoine Méo: The first part of the stage went really well. I opened the road and I was happy with the job that I did. Then we got caught in the dust of Benavides and we were following him. While this was happening we all made a mistake and we couldn’t get back on track. Eventually the helicopter came to direct us back to the start. We lost lots of time today and a chance to win, but that is the Dakar. At least we come back safe.
Laia Sanz: My day started really bad because I crashed and after that I had no trip. Without this bit of kit I had to slow down a lot to find the waypoints and I couldn’t see where the dangers were. With all this slowing down I lost lots of time. But then in the second part of the stage I did all the navigation well so it was not a completely bad day.
Stéphane Peterhansel: They had us in a lot of riverbeds today so that makes things tough from a navigation point of view. The tracks were completely destroyed so that complicates things further. We chose our moments to push, always aware of trying to avoid mistakes. Now after another long day we’re tired so we must rest before we hit the road again tomorrow.
Giniel De Villiers: Lots of concentration required today. Plenty of rocks in the weeds which could have caused big problems. We tried to go clean from the beginning. Unfortunately we had a puncture about 60km from the end of the stage. We lost a bit of time there, but other than that there was no problem. I think this is one of the toughest Dakars we have done in South America for sure. The days are long, we’re finishing the stage at 20 to seven and have been on the road since 6am this morning.
Carlos Sainz: At this moment everything is OK. The plan for tomorrow is to go nice and steady like we did today with no major issues. Along with my co-driver Lucas we’re doing our best to stay relaxed and focused on the job in front of us. It’s also important that we take the time to enjoy each stage that passes without major problems for us.
Cyril Despres: I wasn’t expecting to be so high up in the positions on today’s stage. It was tough navigation. Carlos was really fast at the end so we had to let him go after following him all day. On those big, dry rivers Carlos is really, really fast.
Christina Gaither,