Wadi ad-Dawasir (Saudi Arabia) (AFP)
"Monsieur Dakar" in the lead: Stéphane Peterhansel, 13 times winner of the Dakar, took control of the 2021 edition of the rally-raid on Monday after the second stage, kicking off the race for good.
It was Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota) in cars and Spaniard Joan Barreda (Honda) in motorcycles who won this second stage at the end of a 457 km special between Bisha and Wadi ad-Dawasir in Arabia. Arabia.
"Overall we did a good job", commented Stéphane Peterhansel, "because there were some pitfalls, especially the first kilometers of the special, with dunes, because at that time the car was loaded with gasoline. therefore heavy, you had to be careful not to crash ".
The Frenchman - nicknamed "Monsieur Dakar" in reference to his record of thirteen Dakar victories - engaged in a duel, for the time being still speckled foil, with his teammate at Mini Carlos Sainz, the holder of the 2020 title.
At the end of the stage won by Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota) in 4 h 03 min 14 sec, the two men finished seven minutes apart, the Frenchman getting the better of the Spaniard. and ending at 2 min 30 from Qatari.
- Peterhansel satisfied -
In passing, Stéhane Peterhansel took first place in the general classification.
Tuesday he will leave behind Al-Attiyah.
Not necessarily a disadvantage according to him.
"Tomorrow (Tuesday) there will be dunes, and in the dunes it's never easy to open. So strategically we are fine. Carlos will be in front of us at the start. Besides, everything is going well for the moment. ", he confides in his stand.
Sébastien Loeb, driving his prototype 4x4 from the private BRX team, is in 7th place overall, 36 min 40 sec behind the leader.
A chasm dug in two days.
On Monday, he finished nearly 17 minutes from the winner, in 6th position and continues to learn his new car: "Frankly, I did rather have a good special, I attacked all along, I didn't made a mistake, I did not get lost, we did not have a puncture.
We may have lost 7 minutes max in navigation, but that proves that we lack engine ", explains the Alsatian back in the bivouac after having exchanged a few words with his sporting director.
- Motorcycles neck and neck -
On the two-wheeler side, the Spaniard Joan Barreda (Honda) was the fastest on Monday.
The 38-year-old rider completed the special in 4 h 17 min 56 sec and won in front of the defending champion, the American Ricky Brabec (Honda), 2nd at 3 min 55 sec, and the Chilean Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna), runner-up in the 2020 edition, 3rd at 6 min 02 sec.
Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) took sixth place on the stage on his birthday.
"Today I am 30 years old and unlike yesterday when the terrain reminded me of my very big crash last year, this time I took out my adjustable wrench and I attacked, I am satisfied" , said the Northerner all smiles.
The stage was tight from start to finish, with the favorites rolling within seconds of each other until the finish with the notable exception of Sunday's winner, Australian Toby Price, who finished in a disappointing 28th. position.
Overall, Barreda leads the standings with more than 6 minutes ahead of Ricky Brabec and Botswanan Ross Branch (Yamaha).
Tuesday, the Dakar caravan remains in the region of Wadi ad-Dawasir, to the south-east of the capital Ryad, at the gates of an area nicknamed "the empty quarter", also known for its giant disc-shaped agricultural surfaces. green.
This 3rd stage will form a loop of 630 kilometers, including 403 kilometers of special, at the start and finish of Wadi ad-Dawasir.
© 2021 AFP