UAE Desert Challenge: Series stage four notes

News from leg 4 -- Hertz stage finish

BIKES

Marc Coma (2) - "It was not easy at all today. The wind was strong and the visibility was difficult for all the riders. It was a case of finding a safe pace.Tomorrow is a big day. It will decide the rally. All I can do is ride my best. If he catches me (Despres) he wins. I will try to make sure that he doesn't catch me!"

Obaid Echtibi (56) -- When told that he had won the stage at the arrival into the Tal Mureeb bivouac. "Really? I won? Fantastic! I cannot believe that!

"It was a nice stage, a little more open than the last two days. I started as the second quad and I managed to catch Sebastien (Husseini) and I passed him after the service and pushed on to the finish."

Issued at 10.45 hrs

At 10.45 hrs, 13 bikes had passed PC4 and were heading to the stage finish, with South African rider Sean Gaugain holding a virtual stage lead. Nine cars had passed PC3 with Guerlain Chicherit comfortably in the lead.

CARS

Abdullah Al Herais (209) -- The UAE driver was running third on the stage through PC2, but lost around 20 minutes with technical problems before the third passage control and slipped down the leader board.

Issued at 08.30 hrs

Thirty-seven bikes and quads, 20 cars and one truck were granted an official start time for the fourth leg.

BIKES

Youcef Cummings (8) -- Did not restart this morning. He completed the third stage on Wednesday and complained of shoulder pain. Medical checks revealed that he had broken his collarbone at the same location as a previous injury.

-credit: uaedesertchallenge.com