Pending validation by the race stewards, the leader of the general standings, Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW), has finally won his 1st stage victory on the 32nd Dakar, the 16th of his career in the event, by beating Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel (BMW) by 28" and his American team-mate Mark Miller (VW) by 1’02. As a result, in the general standings, “El Matador” Sainz has given himself a bit more breathing space out front with a lead that now stands at 10’06 over his Qatari team-mate Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW) and 28’19 over his American team-mate Mark Miller (VW). This still means 3 Volkswagens occupy the first 3 places, whereas the 4th placed driver, Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel (BMW), trails the leader by 2.14:20. In the Open category, there was no surprise as American Robby Gordon (Hummer) triumphed for the 9th time out of 10 specials, with the 10th best scratch time. Lastly, in the Production category, Japan’s Jun Mitsuhashi won his 6th special of the 32nd editon, 13’15 ahead of Spaniard Xavier Foj (Toyota). More importantly, this 10th special witnessed the bad luck of general standings leader and title holder, Frenchman Nicolas Gibon (Toyota), who rolled his car after 187 km of the day’s special. As a result, he loses command of the general standings to today’s winner, his Japanese team-mate.
Bike
Pending validation by the race stewards, Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM) was victorious for the 4th time on the 32nd Dakar, making it his 11th stage victory of his career in the event. With a time of 3.10:43 the title holder beat Frenchman David Frétigné (Yamaha) by 2’06 and Portuguese rider Helder Rodrigues (Yamaha) by 2’36. In the general standings, there is no change however, with Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) still out in front, with a lead that now stands at 1.22:49 over Pal Anders Ullevalseter (KTM) and 1.24:07 over Chilean Francisco “Chaleco” Lopez Contardo (Aprilia). However, the fight for the other places on the podium has intensified, because 4th placed rider Helder Rodrigues is now 1.24:59 of the leader, meaning that 2nd to 4th place are only separated by 3minutes!
Truck
Stage 10 summaryPending validation by the race stewards, the five times winner of the event Russian Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) picked up his 8th stage victory in the Dakar 2010 and the 55th of his career on the event (an absolute record, one step ahead of Peterhansel!). With a time of 3.44:23, the “Tsar” beat his countryman and team-mate Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) by 1’24, and the Frenchman le Français Joseph Adua (Iveco) by 1’38. There are no worries for Chagin in the general standings, where the “Tsar” is serenely heading towards his 6th title: he now has a lead of 1.12:55 over his faithful lieutenant Kabirov and a massive lead of 8.35:48 over Dutchman Marcel Van Vliet (Ginaf).
Quad
Stage 10 summaryPending validation by the race stewards, Spaniard Juan Manuel Gonzalez Corominas (Yamaha) was victorious for the 1st time on the Dakar, by winning the 10th special of this 32nd edition. With a time of 3.31:16, the man they nickname “Pedrega” at the bivouac beat the Argentineans Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha) by 8’27 and Sebastian Halpern (Yamaha) by 9’08. No change however in the general standings, where Marcos Patronelli still has a more than healthy lead: he is now 2.24:21 ahead of his “big brother” Alejandro and 4.11:36 in front of Spaniard Gonzalez Corominas (Yamaha).
