2024-01-17 16:07:20
The eighth stage of Dakar 2024 separated the cities of Al Duwadimi and Hail with 458 kilometers, although about 180 of them within the route were not timed. Therefore, the total time trial was 279 km, in a stage in which Carlos Sainz and Sébastien Loeb they were protagonists again in search of the royal trophy.
In fact, the Frenchman opened the stage when dawn broke in the rocky surroundings of Al Duwadimi, surpassing the Spanish by seven secondsdespite the fact that apparently in the trackingstopped for a few minutes for a puncture in a tire. Behind, Guerlain Chicherit provisionally climbed to the podiumsomewhat better than Nasser Al Attiyah whose goal right now is to score the maximum number of points possible for the W2RC, although he was aware that if his teammate at Prodrive needed help, he would offer it without hesitation.
That was not necessary in the end, and nor could it have been done if he needed it, because The Qatari pilot stopped at kilometer 62 of the special for a engine problem after it broke, while Loeb escaped. The Frenchman took advantage of Sainz’s fall to give him around two and a half minuteswho was provisionally third, after the stage leader’s compatriot overtook him at kilometer 111.
In the third reference, near the beginning of the connecting section, after the two-hour stage, Loeb was still ahead, two and a half minutes ahead of the best Audiin this case that of Mattias Ekstrom, while Guerlain Chicherit fell in the time table at the same time Lucas Moraes he approached.
An hour later, The Frenchman from Overdrive Racing beat everyone to take the leadwith two minutes over Sainz, in a section of the stage in which Loeb got lost in search of a waypoint, falling to seventh placewith four minutes difference compared to the Madrid rider, although there were still several drivers to pass, as was the case, among others, of Ekstrom.
In it penultimate reference point before crossing the finish line, at PK 433, Chicherit was still in the leadalways attentive to the Swede, who still had to set time, although the important thing at that moment was that Carlos Sainz gave the Frenchman six minutesa fact that continued just a few kilometers from the end of the eighth stage of the Dakar 2024.
Arrived at the goal, Carlos Sainz certified the advantage he acquired, with six minutes over Loeb, who is 25 minutes away in the general classificationand more than an hour ahead of whoever is currently third, Lucas Moraes. The stage was won by Guerlain Chicheritwith about two minutes to spare, waiting for what Mattias Ekstrom would do.
And in fact, the Swede surpassed the Frenchman and Peterhansel by almost four minutes when crossing the finish line. The until then leader was falling, although he finished ahead of Carlos Sainz, who finished fourth, ahead of Seth Quintero, Guillame de Mevius, Lucas Moraes, Romain Dumas, Giniel de Villiers and Sébastien Loebwhich closed the top 10 of the day.
Top 5 Stage Ranking
1. Mattias Ekstrom (Audi) 3h 17′ 15″
2. Stephane Peterhansel (Audi) +02’45”
3. Guerlain Chicherit (Overdrive) +03’10”
4. Carlos Sainz (Audi) +05’13”
5. Seth Quintero (Toyota) +07’52”
Top 5 Overall Ranking
1. Carlos Sainz (Audi) 33h 29′ 10″
2. Sébastien Loeb (Bahrain Raid) +24’47”
3. Lucas Moraes (Toyota) +01h 05’13”
4. Guillaume de Mevius (Overdrive) +01h 34’18”
5. Giniel de Villiers (Toyota) +01h 45′ 12″
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