The ebb and movement of momentum is a key a part of what makes the Dakar Rally such a basic of endurance, and one other instance of this was supplied by immediately’s fifth stage. Nasser Al Attiyah appeared to have secured his first stage win of this yr’s Dakar, which might have marked a file 18 consecutive editions of the rally during which the Qatari had gained a stage and moved him inside one stage win of the all-time file of fifty held by Stéphane Peterhansel and Ari Vatanen. However the Dacia driver was hit with a 10-minute penalty resulting from a lacking spare wheel on the ending line. That was sufficient for him to lose out on the stage victory by only one second to Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Seth Quintero (pictured above).
It was the second stage win of the rally for the American, who picked up a win on stage 1 — paradoxically after having been credited time again misplaced when he stopped to assist a crashed competitor. Quintero is ninth within the normal rankings, one and half hours from the chief — the implications of two days during which halts prevented him from that includes higher.
“The primary day of the marathon stage wasn’t good for us with three punctures. On these rocks, it’s a lottery and we didn’t get fortunate,” Quintero mentioned. “The primary week was fairly good for us, with a victory at the beginning and two second locations, however then again, we additionally misplaced 40 minutes on the 48 chrono stage and with the punctures yesterday. All in all, it’s not too dangerous. Now, for us will probably be upwards and onwards.”
Within the normal rankings, Al Attiyah’s penalty wiped many of the beneficial properties he made. The Dacia driver, who began the day 35m53s behind Henk Lategan, regained solely 53s and stays in fourth behind Yazeed Al Rajhi (10m17s again of Lategan) and Mattias Ekstrom (20m54s again).
America’s Corbin Leaverton had excessive hopes of climbing onto the Dakar podium within the Challenger class on his first participation. Certainly, the Californian loved a wonderful starting to the race, profitable the prologue earlier than ending the primary 4 levels within the high 5 to carry second general. Nevertheless, the fifth proved deadly to his ambitions as he encountered his first mishap of the week with a mechanical downside after 172 km. Nicolas Cavigliasso took benefit of Leaverton’s issues to extend his lead within the normal rankings, which has now climbed to 28m34s forward of his new closest pursuer, Gonçalo Guerreiro. Paul Spierings runs third.
Mechanical points spoiled the day for one more American, too. Sara Worth, who fought again from a number of early delays to win yesterday’s fourth stage in SSV, was difficult for one more immediately earlier than grinding to a halt 45k wanting the end. That cleared the trail for Chaleco Lopez’s to take the stage victory, 20 minutes forward of the Polaris automobiles pushed by Brock Heger and Xavier de Soultrait. The American nonetheless leads the overall rankings by 1h21m30s forward of his French teammate.
Within the bikes, Luciano Benavides returned to the forefront as Adrien Van Beveren was disadvantaged of victory on the particular by a penalty for rushing however climbed into fourth place on the overall rankings.
Daniel Sanders’ place on the summit of the bike leaderboard has by no means been below menace. The Australian will have the ability to take pleasure in the remaining day, with a lead of 6m52s over Tosha Schareina and 17m38s over Ross Department. KTM, Honda and Hero make up the provisional podium. Individuals Skyler Howes and Ricky Brabec are fourth and fifth general, 20 and 21 minutes behind respectively.
