Stage 5 of the 2012 Dakar for the 12 Spaniards taking part

Luck was not on our side in today’s fifth stage, in which Marc Coma, who started in first position having won yesterday’s stage, lost time again to the rider who is already shaping up as his biggest rival in this Dakar, the Frenchman Cyril Desprès.

The stretch of soft dunes they crossed halfway through the special stage made things difficult for Marc, since opening the track did not make his job any easier. Moreover, he spent the whole time with Desprès watching his every move, so much so that before passing the first checkpoint, both had gone off course and had to cover a few extra kilometres.

Nevertheless, he finished in 2nd position, losing just 1 minute and 41 seconds, once again staying just inside the 10-minute barrier (exactly 9:51). The surprise came from the Husqvarna rider Joan Barreda Bort, who today recovered from yesterday’s bad luck and secured third place on the stage.

Jordi Viladoms and his teammate Gerard Farres, on the KTM Rally Replicas of Bordone-Ferrari, finished inside the top 10, in fifth and eighth place respectively, less than 20 minutes behind the stage winner.

The backpacker and Marc Coma’s teammate, Joan Pedrero, arrived just over 20 minutes behind Desprès, posting a great time and showing that he also wants to carve out a place in the race, taking advantage of having a very good bike within one of the strongest teams in this rally. In 21st place came José Pellicer, on the Husqvarna, also improving on this stage, as his teammate Barreda did. He finished just over half an hour behind the winner.

Miguel Puertas has improved again, and it seems he is gradually feeling more comfortable on the Yamaha. He was 47th, a great result for him without doubt, overtaking many rivals during today’s stage. Behind him came the Gas-Gas riders. After yesterday’s crash problems, Marc Guasch and Laia Sanz did not take risks. They completed the stage together and finished 56th and 58th respectively, more than 1 hour 17 minutes behind Cyril.

Pedro Manuel Peñate was 74th on the KTM, having recovered from the retirement of his teammate Rosa Romero, who will have to settle for cheering on her husband, Nani Roma, in the fight for victory among the cars. Paco Martínez, on the Kawa, was 101st, more than three and a half hours behind the winner, but without doubt with a great effort.

We have a question mark at this hour over Jorge Gómez. He left at 10:07:30 in the morning (local time) and has still not passed the first WayPoint. Several riders who left considerably later than him have already passed that point. We will keep watching to see if we can find out what has happened to him.

Spanish classification, Stage 5 of the 2012 Dakar

2.- Marc COMA (ESP) – KTM – 02:30:14 – 01:41
3.- Joan BARREDA BORT (ESP) – HUSQVARNA – 02:41:15 – 12:42
5.- Jordi VILADOMS (ESP) – KTM – 2:42:50 – 14:17
8.- Gerard FARRES GUELL (ESP) – KTM – 2:47:22 – 18:49
13.- Joan PEDRERO GARCIA (ESP) – KTM – 2:49:18 – 20:45
21.- José Manuel PELLICER (ESP) – HUSQVARNA – 2:59:20 – 30:47
47.- Miguel PUERTAS HERRERA (ESP) – YAMAHA – 3:33:00 – 1:04:27
56.- Marc GUASCH (ESP) – GAS-GAS – 3:46:21 – 1:17:48
58.- Laia SANZ PLA-GILIBERT – GAS-GAS 3:48:50 – 1:20:17
74.- Pedro Manuel PEÑATE MUÑOZ (ESP) – KTM – 4:35:07 – 2:06:34
101.- Paco MARTINEZ (ESP) – KAWASAKI – 6:00:38 – 3:32:05
¿?.- Jorge GOMEZ (ESP) – HUSQVARNA –

General classification of the Spaniards, Dakar 2012

2.- Marc COMA (ESP) – KTM – 14:28:51 – 9:51
6.- Jordi VILADOMS (ESP) – KTM – 15:17:17 – 58:17
8.- Joan PEDRERO GARCIA (ESP) – KTM – 15:18:04 – 59:04
9.- Gerard FARRES GUELL (ESP) – KTM – 15:22:13 – 1:03:13
30.- José Manuel PELLICER (ESP) – HUSQVARNA – 17:19:56 – 3:00:56
32.- Joan BARREDA BORT (ESP) – HUSQVARNA – 17:32:26 – 03:13:26 (+45:00)
53.- Miguel PUERTAS HERRERA (ESP) – YAMAHA – 19:43:29 – 5:24:29
57.- Laia SANZ PLA-GILBERT (ESP) – GAS-GAS – 19:48:23 – 5:29:23 (+40:00)
59.- Marc GUASCH (ESP) – GAS-GAS – 19:49:09 – 5:30:09 – (+40:00)
92.- Paco MARTINEZ (ESP) – KAWASAKI – 24:25:51 – 10:06:51
104.- Pedro Manuel PEÑATE MUÑOZ (ESP) – KTM – 28:04:15 – 13:45:15 (+3:00:00)
¿?.- Jorge GOMEZ (ESP) – HUSQVARNA –

Tomorrow sixth stage, between Fiambalá (ARG) and Copiapó (CHI), where snow is expected since they will cross the border at no less than 4,700 metres of altitude.

Source and photos | Dakar