Dakar 2012, Stage 4
San Juan - Chilecito
714 km in total, 326 km special test
Goncalves gains ground
Paulo Goncalves finished today´s Dakar stage in fifth
position. The Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain rider
gained valuable time against his closest rivals, as
everyone endured a long and difficult test through the
Rioja canyons.
Goncalves started the day as third and quickly found his
rhythm. He had race leader Cyril Despres in sight around
the 80 km mark, but made a navigation error at a difficult
waypoint when he momentarily lost concentration. This
mistake costed the Portuguese almost ten minutes. Keeping
up his front-runner speed, Goncalves afterwards rode
together with Marc Coma, Helder Rodrigues and Frans
Verhoeven until the end of the stage - the closing
kilometres through a muddy river bed.
"More would have been possible today," he said.
"I´m mad at myself having made the mistake. It´s
positive though that I found and kept a good rhythm. The
bike worked flawlessly."
Zé Hélio rode a determined stage, stayed out of trouble and
used the day to improve to 16th overall. Meanwhile teammate
Joan Barreda experienced a disappointing outcome. The
Spaniard was lying fourth at the first checkpoint, but his
rear wheel broke 70 km from the finish. Together with Jose
Manuel Pellicer he eventually made it to Chilecito.
Thursday offers the white dunes of Fiambalá. Things are
going to be very challenging. The riders will need a good
eye and superb navigation in the 247 kilometres long
special test.
(151 km).
1. Marc Coma (SPA) KTM, 4:16:43 hrs
2. Cyril Despres (FRA) KTM, 2:02 min behind
3. Frans Verhoeven (NEL) Sherco, 8:26
4. Helder Rodrigues (POR) Yamaha, 9:01
5. Paulo Goncalves (POR) Husqvarna Rallye Team by
Speedbrain, 11:18
21. Zé Hélio (BRA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain,
30:29
62. Jose Manuel Pellicer (SPA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by
Speedbrain, 1:25:17
70. Joan Barreda (SPA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain,
1:35:58
Overall standings
1. Despres, 11:50:27 hrs
2. Coma, 8:10 min behind
3. Rodrigues, 26:48
4. Francisco Lopez (CHI) Aprilia, 29:50
6. Paulo Goncalves (POR) Husqvarna Rallye Team by
Speedbrain, 35:16
16. Zé Hélio (BRA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain,
1:15:57
36. Jose Manuel Pellicer (SPA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by
Speedbrain, 2:30:09
45. Joan Barreda (SPA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain,
3:00:44
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