The Dakar is a race of ups and downs, but you should never give up. Isidre Esteve's perseverance was rewarded on Wednesday on the fourth stage between Al Henakiyah and Al-Ula. In the first part of the marathon stage, with 415 kilometers timed, the Repsol Toyota Rally Team has climbed to the top 20 absolute and Ultimate category. Isidre Esteve and Txema Villalobos have competed for 5 hours, 1 minute and 1 second, and have entered just 34 minutes behind the first. In the overall standings, the Repsol, MGS Seguros and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Spain driver gained fifteen positions and placed 53rd (32nd in Ultimate).
The day was expected to be complicated, because the Toyota Hilux T1+ number 229 started very late in the starting order (84th) and, being a marathon stage (without assistance at the Al-Ula bivouac), the priority was to look for a clean special stage and, above all, not to get a puncture. A double puncture like the one that affected the Spanish team on the previous day would have been “fatal”, says the driver from Oliana.
“We had a lot of trucks ahead of us and the first 70 kilometers were very rocky with fesh-fesh. That's where we had a hard time. We tried to go with a rhythm without taking risks on the rocks. Txema put more pressure on the tires and it went well. From kilometer 90, I felt good and we were able to give gas until the end. I'm very happy with the stage we did”, he says.
In addition to the difficulties of the route, there was also the physical condition. Isidre Esteve has been suffering from the flu since before the start. All the more epic, if possible, in a race that is intrinsically tough. Without going any further, the rider from Lleida has had to ride today infiltrated, as he himself explains: “This morning, before leaving, I went to see the organization's doctors and they gave me a shot, and in the special stage I felt fine. What was wrong with me was that the flu medication had affected my stomach in the last few days. I hope to recover little by little”.
In a marathon stage, caution always comes before speed, which makes the performance of the Repsol Toyota Rally Team on this special even more valuable. So far on the Dakar, Isidre Esteve has shown that, with no punctures or problems, his pace is good enough to fight for the top 20, which is still his goal. Last Sunday, the rider from Lleida completed the first part of the 48-hour time trial in 24th position. This Wednesday, despite starting behind, with the sword of Damocles of not being able to puncture, and not being physically at his best, he has rubbed shoulders with the elite. No one thinks that Isidre Esteve rides only with his hands; his performance is among the best.
This Thursday, the Repsol Toyota Rally Team faces the second part of the marathon stage, from the Al-Ula bivouac to Ha'il, where on Friday the caravan will enjoy a rest day. The day's special stage is 428 timed kilometers, mostly on sand, dirt tracks and more stones.
Automatic translation of the Spanish version
Source: Repsol Toyota Rally Team / Mediagé Comunicación
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