The pressure which competitors faced the day before, (and late into the night for some of them) will partly ease off on the road to Chilecito. The shorter and less intense stage will allow them to enjoy their majestic surroundings. The red earth tracks, overlooking steep peaks and plunging down into canyons, will take the Dakar through one of the most beautiful regions of Argentina. But no-one should be tempted to sit back and enjoy the view, particularly on the motorcycle and quad bike routes which include some gruelling sections. With thousands of stones to be avoided, it will only take one to ruin this magnificent day!
LIVE OF THE DAY
From Chilecito, by Nicolas Chaix, Team Manager
The 2015 Dakar is a major switch from previous years, it now has the professionalism that a racing program requires. Compared to the previous editions, the team Sherco Tvs Rally Factory is enriched with a mechanical manager, an engine manager, two factory engineers, the TVS director of competition as well as MarcTessier, CEO of Sherco.
Without a complete revolution, it has been very difficult to send the little bit of information I have been able to send outthe last two days. Because of a nonexistent 3G connection and fluctuating telephone communication, you have to understand that it isimpossible to take time to write up a report and then take a vehicle out of the bivouac and drive 10 to 15 km to find a semblance of Wi-Fi.
Then what has happened the last two days ?
Stage 1: Alain, finished fifth without really forcing it and had a lot of fun with the bike. Fabien is not yet comfortable on a machine that he is not completely familiar with.
Stage 2: A small technical problem dampened the enthusiasm of Alain on a very long special that could have strengthened his overall position. Fabien finished exhausted and it will take a long time for his smile and good humor to return. His 2007 Dakar was a long time ago, the machines have changed, the course has changed and everyone is going much faster.
Today, was a transitional step towards the foot of the Andes and Alain finished just behind the leaders, showing what he and his Sherco can do.
Tomorrow we have get up a little before 2 in the morning so that we can be the first to pass through Chilean customs. We hope to arrive in Copiapo by midafternoon. It will take between 12 and 16 hours for the cars and trucks to drive that distance, so there is an urgency for us to leave Argentina.
RIDERS FEELINGS
ALAIN DUCLOS
«There was not much to look forward to today, no navigation, too many miles and the front guys rode like madmen. So I am delighted with this sixth place and I eagerly await the passage of the Andes.»
FABIEN PLANET
«I was stuck behind two riders and there was too much dust for me to get close enough to pass until there was a little hard track, I then managed to get around them.Then it was a bit more like riding an enduro bike but this bike is much heavier than my full enduro bike. Then… I was not slacking off, the ride was more difficult than I had expected.»