Dakar 2013 - Official Event Coverage - thank you ALL TeamF5, lurkers and posters!

Tried to match the WP map to the CP map for tomorrow, but ASO naturally used different scales and the ASS is in a different position


Aproximate WP and CP distances:
WP1 @ 36km
WP2 @ 48km
WP3 @ 96km
WP4 @ 133km
WP5 @ 153-156km
CP1 @ 173km
WP6 @ 186km
WP7 @ 206-209km
CP2 @ 233km
WP8 @ 237km, or together with CP2

Other strange thing I now just noticed, on the dakar site it says tomorrow is 289km connection and 429km special stage while on the map it seems like 260-270km special :huh
The ASO really doesn't want us to know too much already

And if we did, they'd just neutralize stuff or hand out penalties

Speaking of which, "THE DAY'S ROUTE - STAGE 4" page on dakar.com says there's a 288/289km connection followed by a 429km SS. The bike/quad map looks to be the opposite with the SS followed by a longer connection into Arequipa. Which is right?

I'm trying to figure out when I have to crawl out of the kip and a 09:25 SS start time sounds a lot better than 05:45.

Edit: Dayum! 'd on something that doesn't happen 'til tomorrow. I'll turn in my flat-bill cap.

(sorry if posted)

CASTEAU

I had a blast

I caught up with the five leaders and then spent much of the stage at the front. I had a blast. It's always an emotional moment when you lead a Dakar special, because you know there's a huge caravan behind you. And then, just after a large dune 225 km into the stage, I discovered a stunning landscape. It was breathtaking! It was a really nice special and I've had a strong start to the Dakar. At any rate, I'm having loads of fun!

I think they switched the Connection and Special stage names, the distances between bikes and cars on the connection differs by 1km, which checks out on the map so that is most likely the special

It's this f5%ing HRC computer they gave me...

keeps loading up just after the start and i spend the day in the boonies...'

f5actory ride my arse!

Everytime when i open radio maray i get here, what do you get?

DarrylCurtisSA Darryl Curtis 57m
See it's easy to follow, how hard can it be ?? Right !! #dakar2013 pic.twitter.com/1la5W4X7
Details Reply Retweet Favorite

Wowsa, Joan Barreda's rear wheel today

looks good to me???

The ASO probably has to have at least one
fulltime watching this thread,... To keep up
with their own race.

Nice overview of the special stage you got there. Alot of nicely flowing dunes, with the occasional track laid out. Should be smooth going.

Breauxman LIVE
Robby Gordon Quote from the Finish of Stage 3
"I'm focusing on Peterhansel. We started very far back this morning but we caught and overtook loads of cars, so it was a good day for us. We needed to do this, but we also needed to take time back from Peterhansel, on whom I'm clearly focusing my race, and we only clawed back just over 2 minutes. My car's fast, but so are the Minis, we'll see... Al-Attiyah's also fast, as we saw today with his win and his recovery from yesterday's stage... I'm still racing to win the overall, I've got my work cut out for me, but we're going to do our best in every single stage."

I think you're correct so I guess it'll be feet on deck at 0-dark-thirty again, as usual.

Great news!

Fais-toi plaisir Patrick

Wow that's gnarly. Is there a reason why they do not safety wire or zip tie the spokes? So when a spoke does break they at least have a chance that the broken spoke will not swing around and cause further damage?

Looking at the stats, there are 13 bikes (who started) not yet through the stage, Don Hatton and Andrew Scott among them.

Luis and JC are in, as is Boundsy (and I believe the rest of the watch list).

I'd say just straight up - "Shoestring".