Dakar stage 4: the Coma show
It took until very late last night for the last participants to reach. They almost had to leave again, which of course was not possible according to the organization. He therefore decided to shorten the fourth stage by 40 km. The fourth stage takes the participants from Fiambala, Argentina, to Copiapo, Chile, with a special of 160 km instead of 203 kg.
It was the winner of the third stage, Cyril Despres, who was the first to leave. At the first checkpoint the lead was still in the hands of the Frenchman. 57” later followed by compatriot David Casteu on board the Sherco, who was closely followed by Portuguese Paulo Goncalves (BMW). Yet it was title holder Marc Coma who caught the spotlight with the very best chrono.
After 83 km in the fourth stage, Coma has moved into the lead and is now ahead of Casteu and 1'10" ahead of Despres. Coma manages to maintain this 'warp speed' for the rest of the ride and only lags behind the pursuers. He wins the stage well ahead of David Casteu (at 2'04") and Cyril Despres (at 3'14"). However, the latter does not have to worry about anything with a comfortable lead of 8'53" over Casteu in the standings. Coma follows at 38'50” but clearly shows that he must be taken into account as the rally progresses.
Franske Verhoeven has clearly found his second wind and came 17de, just ahead of Knuiman. This now makes him 51th in the standings and is third Dutchman with Knuiman at 24th and Lover at 40th cutting.
Photo credit: J. Van Oers
Dakar standings after four stages
1. Cyril Despres (FRA-KTM)
2. David Casteu (FRA-Sherco) 8'53
3. Helder Rodrigues (POR-Yamaha) 23'45”
4. Luca Manca (ITA-KTM) 29'51″
5. Alain Duclos (FRA-KTM) 38'20"
6. Marc Coma (SPA-KTM) 38’ 50” `
7. Francisco Lopez (CHI) Aprilia) 39' 07”
8. Jonah Street (KTM-USA) 43’06”
9. Pal Anders Ullevalseter (NOR-KTM) 51'13”
10. Paulo Gonçalves (POR-BMW) 56'58”
24. Henk Knuiman (NED-KTM) 2:24'18"
25. Frank Verhoestraete (BEL-KTM) 2:24'36”
42. Hans-Jos Liefhebber (NED-KTM) 3:23'46"
45. Richard De Groot (NED-Yamaha) 3:42'00”
49. Marcel Snijders (NED-Honda) 3:47”26”
54. Mirjam Pol (NED-Honda) 4:26'53”
56. Gerrit-Jan Gerben Vruggik (NED-Honda) 4:39'37”
69. Thomas De Bois (NED-Honda) 6'14'02”
85. Frans Verhoeven (NED-BMW) 13:59'45"
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