BarcelonaEach stage in the Dakar is unique and essential. Every mistake and every success is key to being able to climb the highest step of the podium at the end of the competition. This Tuesday, on the third day, we saw the writing of a new page in the history of the Dakar, the confirmation of a return and the most emotional victory so far.
40th victory and record for Sainz
The name of the day was Carlos Sainz. The Madrid man, in his 40th victory in the Dakar, has achieved a new milestone never reached in the competition. For the first time, an electric-powered hybrid car (which is part of the new T1-Ultimate category) has taken the victory in the Dakar. Sainz did everything on this third day: he was the one who reached the finish line in less time and, at the same time, he arrived first. The third stage of the Dakar was held around Al-Qaisumah, after reducing the timed special by about 100 kilometers as a result of the rains of previous days.
The general in cars is led by Nasser Al-Attiyah and Matthieu Baumel (Toyota) with a margin of more than 37 minutes over the second, Sebatien Loeb and Fabian Luquin (Bahrain Raid). Nani Roma and Alex Haro are eleventh, while Laia Sanz and Maurizio Gerini are in 26th place.
Petrucci smiles again
Danilo Petrucci has returned to the bike in the third stage of the Dakar. “After yesterday’s mechanical problem, I’m able to return to the race. So far everything has been very epic and it’s just the beginning. Today is another day and I want to enjoy it,” he said before starting the day. . After a difficult second stage that forced him to be evacuated by helicopter, many MotoGP riders turned to social media with the Italian, who has been able to walk his smile so characteristic of the dunes of the Saudi Arabia.
Emotional triumph
The Dakar takes you a lot. The hours of preparation and worry are never over, you have to study every kilometer of the route and anticipate everything that may become necessary and essential once on the ground. The Dakar, however, also takes too many lives. The risk is inseparable from making it the toughest rally in the world. Two years ago, the motorcyclist Paulo Gonçalves lost his life and, this Tuesday, his son-in-law, Joaquim Rodrigues, was crowned the winner of the third stage, also on two wheels. He has also done so with the colors of the Indian team (which Gonçalves himself defended when he died in competition) and thus achieves the first victory in its history in the Dakar.
The motorcycle general is led by Sam Sundeland (GasGas) with a margin of only four seconds ahead of his pursuer Adrien Van Beveren (Monster Energy Yamaha).
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