Lategan’s lead cut to 21 seconds | The Express Tribune

BENGALURU/ALDUWADIMI:

Henk Lategan’s overall lead was slashed to 21 seconds as a road book note error caused many drivers at the front of the field to lose their bearings, forcing Dakar Rally organisers to erase any gains or losses for a 20km stretch during Sunday’s stage seven. South African Lategan finished 15th in the 419km special in Al Duwadimi, with his closest challenger in the overall standings, local hero Yazeed Al-Rajhi, coming seventh to throw the championship battle wide open. Lucas Moraes, who lost nearly three hours on Saturday due to a shock absorber problem, bounced back to win the stage, as Mattias Ekstrom finished second to remain third overall.

“We didn’t have anything to lose today, so we pushed a lot,” Moraes said.

Five-times Dakar winner Nasser Al-Attiyah was fourth to the finish line, and maintained fourth place in the general rankings.

Previously, Henk Lategan’s overall Dakar Rally lead was cut to seven minutes and 16 seconds as Yazeed Al-Rajhi closed the gap to the South African despite issues with his car, while Mini’s Guillaume de Mevius and Joao Ferreira were the first two to finish stage six.

Sanders registers fifth win

Meanwhile, Daniel Sanders underlined his dominance on the bikes at the Dakar Rally with victory in Sunday’s seventh stage in Saudi Arabia, his fifth win of this year’s race.

The 30-year-old Australian completed the 412km special stage around Al Duwadimi on his KTM in 4 hours 10 minutes 33 seconds, finishing 3min 36sec ahead of 19-year-old Spaniard Edgar Canet.

“It was pretty fast, very fast,” said Sanders.

“Technical at the start, we had a lot of rain but it was only at the start. So it was a pretty wet line to see in front and just had us kind of correct and not following mistakes with the navigation.

“The speed was good, head was good, so it was a much better day.”

Sanders now leads the provisional standings by 15min 33sec from Spaniard Tosha Schareina (Honda) who finished the day in third place, a further 9sec behind Canet.

Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren is third in the overall standings at 26min 07sec.