Stage 13 San Rafael to Santa Rosa notes

Stage 13 - San Rafael to Santa Rosa
Friday, January 15

* Liaison : 76 km
* Speciale : 368 km
* Liaison : 281 km
* Total : 725 km

Breaking news per ASO Dakar website:
Times given in G.M.T. -3

20:41 - Car
Stage 13 summary

Pending validation by the race marshalls, French driver Stephane Peterhansel (BMW) wins his third stage in this year's Dakar, his 55th stage victory in a Dakar, 1'21 ahead of Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW), and 3'45 ahead of his teammate and countryman Guerlain Chicherit (BMW)... But it is - more importantly - the duel for the final victory between both Volkswagen drivers, Spain's Carlos Sainz and Al-Attiyah, that has made the headlines in this penultimate stage... After a few contacts on the track between both men, the Qatari had the upper hand and arrived 2'32 ahead of his Spanish rival... Hence, in the general standings, on the eve of arriving in Buenos Aires, Spain's Carlos Sainz only has a 2'48 (!) lead over Al-Attiyah! The position of US driver Mark Miller (VW) is more comfortable: he is ranking third 31'48 behind the race leadership and keeps guaranteeing a triple victory for Volkswagen... In the Open category, no surprise as US driver Robby Gordon (Hummer) gets here his 12th victory in 13 stages with the 8th fastest scratch time... Finally, in the Production category, Japanese driver Jun Mitsuhashi wins his 9th stage in this 32Nd edition by arriving 4'24 ahead of Spain's Xavier Foj (Toyota), and 23'47 ahead of French driver Frederic Chavigny (Nissan). In the general standings of this category after stage 13, Japan's Mitsuhashi now has a 6h35'47 lead over Spain's Foj (Toyota), and a 14h26'07 lead over France's Chavigny (Nissan).

20:33 - Bike
Stage 13 summary

Pending validation by the race marshalls, Pal Anders Ullevalseter (KTM), who had already finished 8 times second of a special stage, finally wins his first special stage in a Dakar finishing 43" ahead of the leader in the general standings, Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM), and 2'46 ahead of Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM)... Hence, in the general standings, if Despres is now riding towards a well-deserved victory, with a 1h04'12 lead over his closest contender, it remains to be seen who will be this closest contender and second standing next to him on the podium in Buenos Aires. Indeed, by winning with a time of 3h27'05, the Norwegian has stolen 5'35 to Chile's Francisco Lopez Contardo (Aprilia), and taken the second place in the general standings... Everything will be decided in the last special stage tomorrow for the second place in the general standings just as for the fifth place still held by Frenchman David Fretigne tonight by with just a tiny 3' lead over Malian-French rider Alain Duclos (KTM)...

20:28 - Truck
Stage 13 summary

Pending validation by the race marshalls, two-times Dakar winner Russian driver Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) has won his fourth stage on this 2010 Dakar, his 33rd stage victory in total in a Dakar. With a time of 3h38'47, the title holder arrived 1'50 ahead of his teammate and countryman Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) and 23'06 ahead of Czech driver Martin Macik (Liaz) ... Nothing to worry about however for Chagin in the general standings as the "Tsar" is leisurely heading towards a sixth Dakar victory with a 1h11'53 lead over his wingman Kabirov, and a 10h37'19 (!) lead over Dutchman Marcel Van Vliet (Ginaf).

20:25 - Quad
Stage 13 summary

Pending validation by the race marshalls, Frenchman Christophe Declerck (Polaris) has won his third special stage in this 32nd Dakar. With a time of 4h11'32, the Frenchman arrived 5'56 ahead of Polish rider Rafal Sonik (Yamaha), and 27'14 ahead of Argentine rider Sebastian Halpern (Yamaha)... No change however in the general standings where Argentinean Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha) is still way ahead in first position with now a 2h23'33 lead on his older brother Alejandro Patronelli (Yamaha), and a 5h08'11 lead on Spanish rider Juan Manuel Gonzalez Corominas (Yamaha).

14:00 - Truck
500 - Fourth stage victory for Kabirov

The first 4 trucks have just completed today's special stage and it is eventually Russian driver Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) who wins the stage, his fourth one in this 32nd Dakar and his 33rd stage victory in any Dakar. The title holder arrived with a 1'50 lead over general standings leader, teammate and countryman Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz), and a 23'06 lead over Czech driver Martin Macik (Liaz).

13:15 - Truck
500 - Kabirov gets back in the lead...

The three first trucks have cleared km 328 of today's special stage and Russian driver Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) is back in the lead respectively 1'45 and 18'21 ahead of his teammates and countrymen Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz), the leader in the general standings and Ilgizar Mardeev (Kamaz).

13:05 - Bike
112 - Perseverance is ... again... not rewarded!...

Victim of many problems since the start of this 32nd Dakar edition and last rider in the standings this morning at the start of stage 13, Frenchman Yannick Guyomarc'h (KTM) has - so far - managed to escape the worst difficulties like when he rode for more than 35 hours in one go to catch up with the rally at the rest day in Antofagasta, avoiding being eliminated for a short 50 minutes!... Unfortunately, sometimes, the best of achievements are broken down by tough blows of destiny and today the Dakar of this nice Paris firefighter ended at km 18 of the penultimate special stage because of a broken engine. It is the third withdrawal in five Dakars for Guyomarc'h.

12:35 - Quad
258 - Declerk in for a third stage victory...

The first 5 quads have reached the end of stage 13 and - as expected - Frenchman Christophe Declerck (Polaris) is today's winner; this stage victory is his third in this 32nd Dakar, the second one in a row. He wins 5'56 ahead of Poland's Rafal Sonik (Yamaha) and 27'14 ahead of Argentinean rider Sebastian Halpern (Yamaha). Nothing to worry about for the Patronelli brothers (Yamaha) who did lose more than 30' to today's winner but are still solidly in the lead ranking first and second in the general standings, the younger Marcos in front of his older brother Alejandro.

12:25 - Car
303 - SAINZ STAYS IN THE LEAD IN THE GENERAL STANDINGS FOR 2'58"!...

The three first cars have just finished today's specials stage and Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel (BMW) is the winner with respective leads of 1'21 and 3'53 over VW teammates Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW) and Carlos Sainz (VW)... Hence, in the general standings, the Spaniard keeps the lead in the general standings but - on the eve of the finish line in Buenos Aires - is only 2'58 ahead of the Qatari... The final victory of this 32nd Dakar will be decided tomorrow in the very last stage!...

12:20 - Quad
258 - Declerck keeps going... still

Already the winner of two special stages in this 32nd Dakar including stage 12 yesterday, French rider Christophe Declerck (Polaris) is on the right track to have another go at victory; indeed, at km 328, he had a 6'39 lead over Polish rider Rafal Sonik (Yamaha), and a 23'33 lead over Argentine rider Sebastian Halpern (Yamaha). As for the leader in the general standings, Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha), he is safely 32'23 behind the French stage leader.

12:10 - Car
306 - Al-Attiyah is back 3' behind Sainz!...

The three first cars have just passed km 328 of today's special stage and Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel (BMW) is still in the lead with respective leads of 1'29 and 3'42 over the protagonists of the Volkswagen duel, i.e. Nasser Al-Attiyah and Carlos Sainz. Moreover, in the struggle for general standings leadership that opposes them, the Qatari is pushing ahead and is only 3'07 behind the Spanish standings leader.

12:00 - Truck
501 - Chagin widens the gap in the lead

The first 3 trucks have cleared km 165 of today's special stage and the leader in the general standings, Russian driver Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) is still in the lead with respectively 22" and 14'26 leads over his teammates and countrymen Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) and Ilgizar Mardeev (Kamaz).

11:45 - Truck
501 - Chagin... the way it should be...

The first 5 trucks have cleared km 100 of today's special stage and Russian driver and leader in the general standings Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) is now in the lead with respectively 4" and 12'02 leads over his teammates and countrymen Firdaus Kabirov and Ilgizar Mardeev.

11:35 - Car
301 - "Peter" is widening the gap and Al-Attiyah is winning every second possible...

The first 5 cars have now cleared CP2 (km 216) of today's special stage and Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel (BMW) is still provisional best time 1'12 ahead of Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW), and 2'27 ahead of his teammate and countryman Guerlain Chicherit (BMW). As for Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW) he is 2'51 behind "Peter" and keeps the lead in the general standings for 3'41 against his main contender Al-Attiyah.

11:30 - Quad
258 - Declerck over... and over...

The first 8 quads have now cleared km 265 of today's special stage and French rider Christophe Declerck (Polaris) is still in the lead 6'14 ahead of Polish rider Rafal Sonik and 19'05 ahead of Argentine rider Sebastian halpern (Yamaha). As for the leader in the general standings, Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha), he is now 26'07 behind the stage leader.

11:10 - Truck
500 - Kabirov in the lead at CP1

As the first 4 trucks have cleared CP1 (km 51) of today's special stage, title holder and Russian driver Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) is in the lead, respectively 37" and 12'36 ahead of his teammates and countrymen, leader in the general standings Vladimir Chagin and Ilgizar Mardeev.

11:05 - Car
301 - "Peter" takes the lead and Sainz comes back on Al-Attiyah

The first 5 cars have cleared km 165 of today's special stage and it is now French rider Stephane Perterhansel (BMW) who gets best provisional time 41" ahead of Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW), and 2'03 ahead of Carlos Sainz (VW). Hence, in the standings, the Qatari is now again 3'58 from his Spanish teammate who is still standings leader.

10:55 - Bike
14 - Duclos comes back 3' behind the Top 5...

Embarked in a crazy battle for fifth place in the general standings with French rider David Fretigne (Yamaha), Malian-French rider Alain Duclos (KTM) has protected all his chances in this penultimate stage by arriving 10'13 ahead of his contender. By a way of consequence, in the general standings, Duclos is still ranking sixth but is now only 3' behind Fretigne. The big show-down between both men will be for tomorrow... in the very last stage of this 32nd Dakar!

10:50 - Bike
4 - Ullevalseter's first and a jump in the general standings as a bonus...

The first 5 bikes have just reached the end of this 13th and penultimate stage and Pal Anders Ullevalseter (KTM) is the day's winner 43" ahead of Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM), and 2'46 ahead of Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM); this is his first special stage victory in a Dakar! More importantly, arriving 5'35 ahead of Chile's Francisco Lopez Contardo (Aprilia), brings the Norwegian to the second place in the general stadings with a 4'22 lead on "Chaleco".

10:45 - Quad
258 - Declerck is unstoppable...

The first 8 quads have cleared CP2 (km 216) of today's special stage and French rider Christophe Declerck (Polaris) is still in the lead, now 7'44 ahead of Poland's Rafal Sonik (Yamaha), and 15'22 ahead of Argentine rider Sebastian Halpern (Yamaha).

10:40 - Bike
4 - Ullevalseter takes back what's his!...

The first 8 bikes have now passed km 328 of today's special stage and it is again Norwegian rider Pal Anders Ullevalseter (KTM) who gets best provisional time 28" ahead of the leader in the general standings Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) and 1'25 ahead of Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM). Chile's "Chaleco" Lopez (Aprilia) is 4'42 behind the Norwegian.

10:30 - Car
306 - Nasser in pursuit...

The first 5 cars have now cleared km 100 of today's special stage and Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW) is still in the lead with best provisional time 42" ahead of Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel (BMW), and 57" ahead of US driver Robby Gordon (Hummer). More importantly, the Qatari has been timed 1'40 ahead of the leader in the general standings Carlos Sainz (VW), and is therefore coming back 3'40 behind the Spaniard in the standings.

10:10 - Car
306 - Al-Attiyah regains 1'22 in the sand dunes!...

The first 5 cars have just cleared CP1 (km 51) of today's special stage located right at the end of the Nihuil grey sand dunes, est Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW) got the best provisional time so far 1'22 ahead of his prime rival for the ultimate title, his teammate Spanish driver Carlos Sainz (VW), who is now still in the lead of the general standings but with 3'58 only over the Qatari... As for US driver Mark Miller (VW), he has the exact same time as Sainz, and is still 14" ahead of US driver Robby Gordon, ranking provisional fourth in the general standings with his Hummer.

10:05 - Quad
258 - Declerck is growing the gap...

The first 5 quads have now cleared km 165 of the day's special stage and French rider Christophe Declerck (Polaris) is still best provisional time with now 5'44 lead over Poland's Rafal Sonik (Yamaha), and 12'32 over Argentine rider Argentin Sebastian Halpern (Yamaha).

10:00 - Bike
2 - Despres in the lead on km 265

The first 8 bikes have now cleared km 265 of the day's special stage and it is now the leader in the general standings, Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM), who is in the lead with best provisional time 19" ahead of Norway's Pal Anders Ullevalseter (KTM), and 37" ahead of Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM).

09:40 - Truck
501 - IT'S A GO FOR TRUCKS!

Winner of stage 12 yesterday and more than ever leader in the general standings, Russia's Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) has started in 16th place in the car/truck pack hence opening the day's special stage for the track monsters at 9:34 AM as per schedule. The "Tsar" was followed 1' later by his faithful wingman and second in the standings, his teammate and countryman Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) who started 17th in the pack.

09:30 - Quad
258 - Declerck keeps going...

The first 5 quads have just cleared km 100 of today's special stage and French rider Christophe Declerck is still in the lead 4'42 ahead of Poland's Rafal Sonik (Yamaha) and 7'15 ahead of Argentine rider Sebastian Halpern (Yamaha). As for the Patronelli brothers(Yamaha) they are respectively 15' and 20' behind the provisional day's leader.

09:25 - Bike
14 - Duclos 5'11 from the Top 5...

Part of a great battle at the rear with David Fretigne (Yamaha) for the Top 5 of the general standings, Malian-French rider Alain Duclos keeps eating up his delay and has been timed at CP2 (km 216) of the day's special stage 8'02 ahead of his French rival. For the time being the latter stays fifth in the standings but now with only a short 5'11 lead on Duclos.

09:20 - Bike
4 - Ullevalseter for a first victory!

As the first 10 cars have now cleared CP2 (km 216) of the day's special stage, Pal Anders Ullevalseter (KTM) is still in the lead with best provisional time 38" ahead of Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM) and 49" ahead of the leader in the general standings, Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM). In the fight for second place in the general standings between the Norwegian and Chile's Francisco Lopez (Aprilia), the gap remains stable: "Chaleco" is now 4'05 from Ullevalseter in the standings.

09:15 - Car
303 - IT'S A GO FOR CARS!

Winner of yesterday's stage 12, the leader in the general standings, Spanish driver Carlos Sainz (VW) started the day's special stage at 09:10 AM as scheduled. "El Matador" was followed 2' later by his prime contender in the fight for final victory, his teammate Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW)... So all the elements are in place for the so-much-expected duel!... Let us recall that in the standings - just 2 stages shy of the finish in Buenos Aires - Sainz only has a 5'20 lead on Al-Attiyah at the top of the standings.

08:55 - Bike
4 - Stable gaps at km 165...

The first 6 bikes have now cleared km 165 of the day's special stage and it is still Norwegian rider Pal Anders Ullevalseter (KTM) in the lead ahead of the leader in the general standings 59" ahead of Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM), and 1'18 ahead of title holder - for two more days still - Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM).

08:45 - Quad
258 - Declerck on the way to victory nr.3?...

As the first five quads has just cleared CP1 (km 51) of the day's special stage, it is Frenchman Christophe Declerck (Polaris) who was timed with the best provisional clock 58" ahead of Argentine rider Sebastian Halpern (Yamaha), and 5'14 ahead of Poland's Rafal Sonik (Yamaha)... Respectively ranking first and second in the standings with more than 3 hours lead over their closest contenders the Patronelli brothers are not taking any chances in this penultimate special stage and are riding the track together several minutes behind the stage leaders.

08:20 - Bike
4 - Ullevalseter strengthens his second place in the general standings...

The first 3 bikes have now passed km 100 of today's special stage and it is still Norwegian rider Pal Anders Ullevalseter (KTM) who gets the best time 39" ahead of the leader in the general standings, French rider Cyril Despres (KTM), and 1'26 ahead of Spain's Marc Coma (KTM). More importantly, the Norwegian is now 5'31 ahead of his prime rival for second place in the general standings, Chile's Francisco Lopez (Aprilia). "Chaleco" is now provisionally 4'18 behind Ullevalseter in the standings.

08:10 - Bike
14 - Nice duel for the Top 5!...

Deprived yesterday - for 13'13 of his fifth place in the general standings by David Fretigne (Yamaha) - Alain Duclos (KTM) has already recoverd half of his delay at the end of the sand dunes in Nihuil. The first 10 bikes have now cleared the dunes and the Malian-French rider was indeed just 2'15 behind the leader, Ullevalseter, but 6'04 ahead of Fretigne. It needs to be said that the latter had to stop at km 30 of the special stage for about 5 min probably due to a mechanical problem...

08:05 - Bike
2 - Provisional second fastest time for Despres...

More bikes have now cleared CP1 (km 51) of today's special stage and it is now the leader in the general standings French rider Cyril Despres (KTM), who gets the second best clock 44" behind Ullevalseter (KTM), but 12" ahead of Spain's Marc Coma (KTM).

07:55 - Bike
4 - Ullevalseter second in the standings again in the sand dunes!...

The first 3 bikes have now cleared CP1 (km 51) of today's special stage located just right at the end of the grey sand dunes of Nihuil and it is Norwegian rider Pal Anders Ullevalseter (KTM) who gets the best time 56" ahead of Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM), and 4'00 ahead of Chile's Francisco Lopez Contardo (Aprilia). Hence, the Norwegian is now back in second position of the standings, a place he stole back from "Chaleco" for 2'47!...

07:35 - Quad
258 - IT'S A GO FOR QUADS!

The winner of yesterday's special stage, French rider Christophe Declerck (Polaris) started 26th in the bike/quad pack kicking off the day's stage for the quads at 7:31 AM as scheduled. He was followed 1'30 later by Argentinean rider Alejandro Patronelli (Yamaha), who was 29th in the starting order of the bike/quad pack.

07:10 - Bike
9 - READY, STEADY, GO!

Good morning everyone! At the end of stage 12 yesterday, 193 teams - 90 bikes, 14 quads, 59 cars and 30 trucks - were given permission to start stage 12 this morning. It is Chile's Francisco Lopez Contardo (Aprilia) who started the day's special stage at 7:00 AM as scheduled. "Chaleco" was followed two minutes later by French rider David Fretigne (Yamaha).

20:53
STAGE 13: SAN RAFAEL -- SANTA ROSA

725 km are on the menu for the 13th and penultimate stage of the 32nd Dakar, which will be the last opportunity for the leading competitors to change the rankings. In fact, although the timed section is 368-km long, the difference will probably be made over the first 50 kilometres, where they must cross an erg made up of the last dunes of the rally in the grey sands of Nihuil. After that, the competitors will have to tackle wide and very quick tracks, where it will be almost impossible to open up gaps, at least not without taking enormous risks.

-source: aso