• Video.Tremendo I turn Alonso into a dune as soon as I start
  • Classifications: This is the general of the Dakar

The Spanish delegation lived a round day in the tenth stage of the Dakar Rally, with the victories of Carlos Sainz (Mini) and Joan Barreda (Honda) in cars and motorcycles, respectively. The violent gusts of wind, which prevented the helicopters from flying over the competition zone, forced to cut the 534 km route between Haradh and Shubaytah. The stage stopped at 345 and times were counted at kilometer 223 of the timed section

The second to last stage of this Dakar was especially satisfactory for Sainz, who started the day with just 24 seconds ahead of Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota) and finished it with more than 18 minutes away on the Qatari and also on his other great rival, Stéphane Peterhansel (Mini). The Madrid scored his fourth victory in this Dakar after a day complicated by the strong wind that caused numerous navigation problems among his rivals and finally forced to shorten the route.

Thus, of the 534 timed kilometers initially planned barely 223 were disputed, although it was enough ground for Sainz to make a great step towards the possible third Dakar of his career after the 2010 and 2018 titles. His rivals barely lost two minutes in the kilometer 174, but in the last 50 they squandered much of their options to the final victory.

Finally, Sainz won ahead of the Polish Jakub Przygonski (Mini) and the South African Giniel de Villiers (Toyota), but his real gaze was on Peterhansel (10th) and Al-Attiyah (17th), who lost 11:48 and 17: 46, respectively. Now, the Spanish leads with 18:10 of advantage over the Qatari and 18:26 over the French.

Before, the day began with the spectacular accident of Fernando Alonso (Toyota), who overturned while passing a dune and took two bells. Neither the Asturian driver nor his co-driver Marc Coma suffered physical consequences and could continue in the race, although without the windshield of his car, which made his visibility very difficult. Finally they lost an hour and 17 minutes in goal and fell to 14th place overall.

Premiere of Barreda, which borders the 2nd place

Joan Barreda, during a stage of the Dakar.

As for the motorcycles, Barreda finally sang victory in this Dakar after three consecutive days in the 'Top 3', adding the 17th victory of his career since he premiered his record in 2012. The Castellón won with just over a minute of rent on Ricky Brabec (Honda), who returned to control the race and reaffirmed his broad advantage in the general classification, which brings him even closer to the first Dakar of his career.

The American already has a mattress greater than 25 minutes above Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna). Behind, Barreda only loses 1:25 with respect to the Chilean and has in his hand the second place of the general that would significantly exceed his best historical result, the fifth place of 2017.

This Friday will be the penultimate day and second part of the marathon stage, which all competitors will play again without assistance, with a route of 379 kilometers timed between Shubaytah and Haradh.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Dakar Rally
  • sports
  • Fernando Alonso

Dakar Rally Carlos Sainz: "I don't think Fernando Alonso is a rival this Dakar"

More MotorPeterhansel goes on the attack and Alonso comes back down: "The last kilometers became endless"

More MotorAlonso, on the exit ramp of the Dakar: From 'Game of Thrones' to 'The Fantastic Car'