In the standings, Peterhansel advanced to second place, 22:36 behind last year’s winner. The Saudi Yazeed Al Rajhi (Toyota), fourth on Thursday, is third at 27:01.
South African Henk Lategan (Toyota) took the best start, but had to pass Petershansel at the next waypoint, after which the Frenchman Sébastien Loeb took over. After 182 kilometers, Loeb was three seconds ahead of Al-Attiyah and seven ahead of Peterhansel. By the next waypoint, Al-Attiyah had taken the lead and was ten seconds ahead of Loeb and 22 seconds ahead of Peterhansel.
After 355 kilometers Loeb and his Belgian co-pilot Fabian Lurquin had to let go. The Frenchman lost fifteen minutes and all chances of a second stage victory. It eventually went to Nasser Al-Attiyah. For the Qatari it is his second stage victory in this Dakar and the 46th in his career.
© AFP
Motorcyclist Adrien Van Beveren wins fifth stage
Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) won the fifth stage in the Dakar for motorcyclists on Thursday. The Frenchman took the lead after 200 kilometers when the four riders in front of him made a navigation error. He narrowly held off Chilean José Ignacio Cornejo Florimo (Honda) by thirteen seconds. American Mason Klein (KTM) finished third at 5:13.
American Skyler Howes (Husqvarna), sixth at 10:05, takes the lead from Australian Daniel Sanders (GasGas), who set the 21st fastest time and lost 26:56. In the standings he is 44 seconds ahead of the Argentinian Kevin Benavides (KTM), seventh in the day result. Klein is at 1:40 third. Howes tumbled to eighth place, at 13:18.
Joan Barreda Bort (Honda) was the first to enter the desert early on Thursday morning. The Spaniard, who won his 29th Dakar stage on Wednesday, suffered a broken toe during the stage. At the first time control, after 37 kilometers, he was two minutes behind. After 182 kilometres, Australian Toby Price (KTM) was the fastest of the bunch, followed by Barreda Bort, Chilean Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) and Howes. That four went wrong 20 kilometers from the supply. They had to take a turn to find a waypoint and the correct route. Van Beveren was not caught and took the lead.
Nacho Cornejo took over the lead from his teammate for a while, but eventually had to leave the victory to Van Beveren. He booked his first stage victory in this Dakar and the third in his career.
Jérome Martiny (Husqvarna) raced in the top thirty for a long time, until he ran out of gas 17 kilometers before refueling. “I think my gas tank is leaking because I didn’t do anything crazy on the way. I had to wait a long time, but eventually a Chinese stopped by who gave me two liters and was able to drive calmly to the supplies. Very kind of that man. The tank is now completely filled. I’m going to drive quietly to the bivouac. I will not make up for lost time”, said Jérome Martiny from the supply. At the next waypoint, the Belgian passed as 99th. At the last waypoint he had already moved up to position 73.
Moreno Flores wins fifth stage in the quads
With a victory in the fifth stage, the Argentinian Francisco Moreno Flores (Yamaha) broke the hegemony of the Frenchman Alexandre Giroud (Yamaha) in the Dakar for quads on Thursday. The American Pablo Copetti (Yamaha) was second at 53 seconds, the Brazilian Marcelo Medeiros (Yamaha) third at 1:24.
After five victories in a row (including prologue), Giroud, last year’s overall winner, had to settle for fifth place on Thursday, at 7:15. With a lead of 39:48 on Flores, he remains firmly leader. The Lithuanian Laisvydas Kancius (Yamaha) follows in third at 1h12:39.
Giroud ruled in recent days, but took back some gas on Thursday. Medeiros set the fastest time at the first waypoint, after which Flores took over command and held on until the end. For the Argentinian, who finished second last year, it is his first victory in this Dakar and the second in his career.
The Dakar is now six days away. One prologue and five stages together accounted for 2,057 competitive kilometers, 43.71 percent of the planned 4,706 kilometers. The remaining 2,649 kilometers will be divided into nine more stages. Especially the stages in the Empty Quarter next week are a lot shorter, but they are a lot heavier.