Dakar 2021: Price and Sainz rock the Dakar

The hectic pace of the first real special of the Dakar took a heavier toll on the competitors than its length. The hodgepodge of tracks in the first part of the course required a laser-like focus and got the best of riders such as Ricky Brabec. Next on the menu were tracks littered with rocks waiting to do a number on the tyres of any competitor who strayed from the right path, as Sébastien Loeb can attest following his bitter experience in the south of the country. Before reaching Bisha, the competitors who emerged unscathed from these early hazards caught a breather on the first sandy section of the race, which was much easier on their tyres… and on their nerves.

Outlines

The first stage was a mixed bag for the defending champions. Ricky Brabec shipped 18 minutes to Toby Price after totally losing his bearings in the opening kilometres, while his predecessor as the winner of the race claimed his thirteenth career Dakar stage win. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz nabbed victory in the car category, which saw outsiders Martin Prokop and Mathieu Serradori finish third and fourth, respectively. Cristina Gutiérrez and her T3 took the spoils in the lightweight vehicle category, signing one of those oh-so-rare female victories in the rally (see Performance of the day). In the truck category, 2020 champion lost over an hour and a half due to a mechanical, but this did not stop Kamaz from taking the reins of the general classification with one of his heirs, Dmitry Sotnikov. Finally, quad rider Alexandre Giroud was the only winner of the prologue who extended his victorious streak today.

Performance of the day

It seemed impossible. A fortnight ago, Cristina Gutiérrez had given up all hope of starting her third Dakar. However, just two weeks after RedBull Off Road Team USA called her up and put her behind the wheel of an OT3 light prototype, today she took the opening stage in the lightweight vehicle category. Most importantly, by beating former champion Reinaldo Varela, she has become the first female stage winner since German Jutta Kleinschmidt took her last triumph in 2005.

Crushing blow

Sébastien Loeb was probably hoping for more in his Dakar comeback. The man from Alsace started the first stage in a good position at the wheel of his BRX after finishing the prologue in tenth place. However, luck was not on his side in the opening stage. A series of three punctures ruined his pace, while a couple of navigational errors pushed him further down the classification. It was a calamitous stage for the French nine-time WRC champion, who is now almost 24 minutes adrift of leader Carlos Sainz in the general classification and has no choice but to go on the attack in the coming days

Stat of the day: 8/10

Bikers of the world, unite! No fewer than eight countries were represented in the leading group of the first stage, including an American, an Argentinian, an Australian, an Austrian, a Brit, a Czech, a Frenchman and a Spaniard. Bikers from Botswana, Chile, Poland and Slovakia also cracked the top 20. All in all, 28 different nationalities featured on the start list of the Dakar motorbike race this year.

Quote of the day

Mathieu Serradori: "We set the tone for the Dakar"
The French private driver is here to rain on the favourites' parade… and finished fourth today.

"It was a hard day for everyone. We're glad the stage is over. We set the tone for the Dakar. There were plenty of changes of pace. We weren't reckless, but we pushed hard all day long. We made a few mistakes here and there, but we're in good company in this regard. Fabien did a sterling job with the navigation, putting me back on track after I got into a tight spot two or three times. We jumped into all the right wadis. The big guns are on their way. Carlos and Stéphane… "

Source: Dakar Rally / ASO
Photo: DPPI/F.Gooden