Cyril Despres suddenly back in the lead after Coma withdrawal

"I'm really relieved for Marc and also for Isidre," said Despres

Cyril Despres is now 35'28'' ahead his team-mate David Casteau. © J. van Oers. Cyril Despres, who started out today tailing Coma by almost an hour, inherits the uncomfortable position of general rankings leader by default, in tandem with setting the best time of the day on the special.

Cyril Despres: "During the last 20 kilometres, I started thinking. I couldn’t see the helicopter above me and the people at the side of the road had strange expressions on their faces. I had a bad feeling about it. I’m glad that Marc [Coma] wasn’t too badly hurt. This morning, we were a little worried about the dust from all the competitors who started in front of us. I’m really relieved for Marc and also for Isidre."

"As regards my special, I found the right direction after 6 kilometres although the riders in front of me had got a bit lost. It was difficult to navigate, but I’m very satisfied with my special, I enjoyed myself. I’ve always said since Morocco, when I had mechanical problems, that if I didn’t believe in my chances of victory, then I might as well have gone home. But the Daker isn’t finished just yet. There are still two days to go and I could have navigation problems tomorrow."

The Frenchman, who didn’t need this unfortunate event to remind him of the stakes involved in the forthcoming final days of the race, indeed lost more than forty minutes last year between Tambacounda and Dakar, the stage which is on the programme for tomorrow. He does not have as much of a lead over Casteu, who is now 35’28’’ behind Despres. Finally, Catalonia was also hit by the Isidre Esteve’s crash just before CP1: still able to ride, he awaited his assistance truck to repair his bike and set off again toward Tambacounda.

David Casteu: "Just before I got to CP1 I found Isidre, on the ground next to his bike. He asked me what he was doing there, where he was. The bike was damaged and I couldn’t repair it. I took him on my bike to CP1 where I knew there was a doctor. When we got there, I gave some money to one of the locals to go with his pick up to fetch the bike. It gave me so many bad memories of last year. I suppose that Isidre went for all-out attack because he needed to for his race and sponsors. I’m 2nd in the general rankings, but today I’m not thinking about that."
(Gauloises Racing)