Dakar 2011, Stage 10, Copiapo-Chilecito
Road section 686 km, Special 176 km

The Dakar trek had to deal with an almost neverending Andes crossing during today´s stage number ten. The heat played an additional role in the valleys that followed east of the giant mountain chain. The route offered all ingredients to make it a "Mini Dakar": enormous mountains, huge hot dunes, challenging Enduro passages and fast sections.



Team BMW Motorrad by speedbrain rider Frans Verhoeven, runner-up on Tuesday, tried to place his bike in the lead group again. He managed to maintain the pace of the front-runners for a while, being accompanied by Jonah Street, who later took a wrong turn. Verhoeven´s next companion became three-time Dakar winner Cyril Despres.
Both chose the route through a wrong valley and found themselves in a stoney creek bed. Together they came back on the right path after having to climb some hefty rock stairs. Not surprisingly, Verhoeven and Despres lost precious time. Nevertheless Verhoeven ended the stage in 12th place, making up ground in the overall ranks.

Teammate Pedro Bianchi Prata also rode strong to earn 24th position on the day. He also makes up ground in the standings.

Tomorrow´s stage is set to offer movie-like canyons on the way further east. The team is confident to keep climbing up the classification.

Dakar 2011, Stage 10

1. Marc Coma (SPA), KTM
2. Cyril Despres (FRA) KTM, 9:56 min behind 3. Ruben Faria (POR), KTM, 13:22 4. Miran Stanovnik (SVN), KTM, 21:26 5. Francisco Lopez Contardo (CHI), Aprilia, 21:43 6. Henk Knuiman (NEL), KTM, 22:11 7. Javier Pizzolito (ARG), Honda, 22:16 8. Juan Pedrero Garcia (SPA), KTM, 24:40 9. Alain Duclos (FRA), Aprilia, 26:56 10. Helder Rodrigues (POR), Yamaha, 27:46

12. Frans Verhoeven (NEL), BMW Motorrad by speedbrain, 30:04 24. Pedro Bianchi Prata (POR), BMW Motorrad by speedbrain, 42:14

Overall standings

1. Coma
2. Despres 18:10 min behind
3. Lopez Contardo 45:16

22. Verhoeven, 6:52:48
35. Bianchi Prata, 10:17:18