Cyril Despres went into Stage 11 of the Dakar Rally on Thursday with the slimmest of overall margins just 21 seconds ahead of KTM factory teammate Marc Coma. At the end of the 534 km timed split section, Despres was first across the line and had extended his lead to 2 minutes 22 over his rival.
Given that the race is around 9000 km and there are still three stages to the finish, the competition is still wide open.
The two KTM riders, who are more than an hour in front of third-placed Helder Rodrigues of Portugal, are both aware that the slightest mistake can cost them their fourth title in the world’s toughest rally. They have also now both won four stages each in this edition. Other KTM riders in the forefront of the action in today’s stage were Gerard Farres Guell of Spain who was just 1 minute 39 behind Despres in second place and Johnny Aubert, KTM Enduro factory rider, competing in his first Dakar Rally on a series model KTM 450 Rally Replica bike. Farres led the bikes for much of the day and Aubert had his best ever day so far finishing fourth in the stage.
So with the two lead riders so evenly matched, from the same team and riding the same factory bikes it is now largely a matter of tactics. Coma and Despres finished 2-3 in yesterday’s stage so Coma went out first. Despres shadowed his opponent all day and only went into the lead in the last part of the ride. It was the Frenchman’s thirtieth Dakar stage victory.
Despres said today was all about attacking. ”In the beginning there had been a modification to the road book and the tracks weren’t very visible. I rode 100 meters too far but then I saw Marc was turning round, even though he started two minutes in front of me. The day was a tough one and started with pushing the bike through a stream. It could be an important development to have someone between Marc and me. With Farres at second it’s not good for me. Tomorrow will be complicated, but anything can happen on the Dakar.”
That is exactly what will happen tomorrow on the second of four stages in Peru. Despres will have to open the road as the first out of the start gate, then Farres Guell, a friend and Spanish colleague of Coma’s will go off two minutes later setting up a possibility for the title holder to quickly gain on Despres. Coma will also be assisted by Aubert who moves up to be his support rider after his water carrier Joan Pedrero was forced to withdraw after Stage 10.
Coma again underlined that he was prepared to do whatever it takes to pull off his fourth title. “Today we had a mixture of several types of terrain. It was fast hard packed earth, sandy and stony. It was predictable that Cyril would gain time on me today but I’m going to try my utmost right until the end. There are three days left to give it everything.” He was evasive regarding tactics saying: “It’s difficult to define a strategy when Cyril is riding flat out in front. I’ll just have to follow him. It won’t be flat out, but the pace will again be quick, like it has been since the beginning of the race.”
Third placed Portugal’s Helder Rodrigues lost time stalling at a river crossing in the early part of the special but still has a comfortable lead over fourth overall, KTM rider Jordi Viladoms of Spain. Rodrigues is one of only two non-KTM riders currently in the overall top ten. Despres’ water carrier, Rubin Faria had some navigational problems in the early part of the timed special and eventually finished back at 38. He is currently twelfth overall.
Results Stage 11
1, Cyril Despres, France, KTM 4 hours 03 minutes 37 seconds
2, Gerard Farres Guell, Spain, KTM at 1 minute 39
3, Marc Coma, Spain, KTM at 2:01
4, Johnny Aubert, France, KTM at 3:30
5, Joan Barreda Bort, Spain, Husqvarna at 4:53
Other KTM
6, Felipe Zanol, Brazil, KTM at 5:37
7, Jordi Viladoms, Spain, KTM at 5:54
9, Pal Anders Ullevalseter, Norway at 7:44
10, Stefan Svitko, Slovakia, KTM at 10:18
12, Alessandro Botturi, Italy, KTM at 13:35
14, Daniel Schroeder, Germany, KTM at 17:27
17, Chris Birch, New Zealand, KTM at 20:49
18, Henk Knuiman, Netherlands, KTM at 22:25
38, Rubin Faria, Portugal, KTM at 1:02:16
Overall Results after Stage Eleven
1, Cyril Despres, France, KTM, 37 hours 11 minutes 16 seconds (15 minutes penalty)
2, Marc Coma, Spain, KTM at 2:22 (15 minutes penalty)
3, Helder Rodrigues, Portugal, Yamaha at 1:08:40 (15 minutes penalty)
4, Jordi Viladoms, Spain, KTM at 1:24:46
5, Stefan Svitko, Slovakia, KTM 1:34:56
Other KTM
6, Gerard Farres Guell, Spain, KTM at 1:37:00
7, Pal Anders Ullevalseter, Norway, KTM at 2:04:06 (55 minutes penalty)
8, Alessandro Botturi, Italy, KTM at 2:29:26 (5 minutes penalty)
10, Felipe Zanol, Brazil, KTM at 3:09:37 (55 minutes penalty)
12, Rubin Faria, Portugal, KTM at 3:42:43 (55 minutes penalty)
14, Jacek Czachor, Poland, KTM at 4:06:41
15, Johnny Aubert, France, KTM at 4:11:42
16, Henk Knuiman, Netherlands, KTM at 4:47:31