Everyone has been saying the same for the past three days, the Dakar Rally starts today. As if the tight turns running from Colon to Cordoba on stage one were not enough, some were still dismissing the slippery second stage as being “too easy”.
As the riders set off in the white snow of the Argentine province of Catamarca yesterday, it soon became apparent that this stage would make or break the race for many of the riders.
Among the unlucky ones who suffered major setbacks today was Nani Roma in the car class and Jordi Viladoms on his bike. After claiming the first stage, Roma looked set for a successful run. Roma’s dreams now look in tatters after he flipped his BMW while riding on the dunes and is suspected to have broken his hand.
Red Bull KTM’s Jordi Viladom’s race is run after the Spaniard fell off his bike and injured his chest. Further bad news for the KTM team is that reigning champion Marc Coma is having big trouble with his machine and yesterday he dropped well off the pace.
There is some solace for Red Bull KTM – if not for Coma – that two-time winner Cyril Despres is now the man in front.
Despres was in fine form as he scooted through the desert conditions. Ever the professional, Cyril will probably be a little disappointed that he didn’t break the three-hour mark for the stage.
Second to Cyril on stage three was Red Bull’s Helder Rodrigues who he continues to get the very best from his Yamaha. The result pushes the Portuguese rider up to third in the bike class and he will be out to put some daylight between anyone trying to snatch his podium place today.
Also worthy of a special mention is Martin Freinademetz of Red Bull Romaniacs who leaped up to 31st overall after a superb display in the sand.
Despite Roma’s accident, the Red Bull Volkswagen team failed to stay top in the car class. An explosive Stephane Peterhansel used his considerable experience to guide his BMW to a stage win. After a performance packed with quality, Peterhansel also went top of the overall leader board, Carlos Sainz stays second.
At least we have probably heard the last “the Dakar starts for real today” comment – at least for another year. As the last riders finished stage three at daybreak this morning, they will have noticed the Bayo Grande mountain looming in front of them.
Those competitors without the attitude for altitude will be found out today just as the desert laid its sandtrap yesterday.
Keep on trucking
Whereas most machines struggled to cope with the conditions on stage three, there were one or three who defy everything the Dakar can throw at it. I’m referring of course to the Kamaz Trucks. As expect, the Russian team of superstar truckers have dominated their class.
Red Bull Photofiles
The Kamaz Trucks are a real favourite with the crowd again this year and over the dunes they offered a display of excellence to wow the onlookers. I had the pleasure of seeing them at the start of yesterday’s stage and once they get rolling they take on the guise of an unstoppable object.
As the rally heads to a new level today don’t be surprised if the Kamaz Trucks find another gear as well.
Dakar Daiquiri Moment: Out of the frying pan, into the cauldron
With the top place riders safely back with their crews, I took the chance to sample the delights of nearby Fiambala – a town with a reputation for producing fine wines and olives out some the driest ground you are ever likely to see.
But I didn’t have fine dining in mind. I went to Termal de Fiambala, a slacker’s paradise 1400 metres above sea level. It’s a spa made up of a series of 14 different bathing pools which spit you out the other end feeling like you could sleep through an ice age.
The water is heated by a thermal spring as the precious agua passes through volcanic lava before trickling down through the resort. The temperature of the water is then moderated to be different in each pool with the first set at 45 degrees and the last at 15 degrees. The idea is to start in the kettle and slowly work your way down to the tepid zone.
Before anyone accuses me of going all upmarket, it costs less than two euros to get in and the place was packed with race fans.
Argentine Daniel Pages was in there after an exhausting day following stage three on his quad. “I going to do the whole curcuit this year and already I am having days I will remember forever. I started in Buenos Aires and hopefully I will make it back there with the rally,” he said.
“Me and my friends are all very excited and surprised by the Argentine Patronelli brothers in first and second on the quads. As quads is my sport I am so happy for them.”
Cousins Lucy Lazo, Ameriaq Mascareno and Maria Eugenia Guerrero had undertaken a round trip of 800km from Catamarca to watch stage three. Between moving through the thermal pools Lucy made a passionate plea to the organisers of the Dakar.
“Please don’t take the Dakar away from Argentina. It has become so important for us and it brings so much to every part of the country it visits.”
Well there you go chaps, Argentina loves the Dakar but tomorrow the race crosses the border into Chile. It’s a cruel world, just ask Jordi Viladoms.
For more info, visit the official Dakar Rally website, the Volkswagen Motorsport site or Twitter along with driver Mark Miller.
iPhone users can also follow all the Dakar action with Volkswagen Motorsport’s free Dakar Rally app and don't forget to check back in to Red Bull for more from the Dakar Rally.
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