Dakar – Peterhansel hits hard in Arequipa, Al-Attiyah takes over the reins

With a new dune zone, Acari, the third stage of the 2019 Dakar between San Juan de Marcona and Arequipa in Peru, was highly anticipated and promised to offer navigation and crossings, all the cocktail to create surprises in the peloton.

And the best in these tricky conditions turned out to be Stéphane Peterhansel who widely imposes his Mini JCW Buggy this Wednesday, Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota) regaining leadership in general.

From the first kilometers, the stage had a first loser in the person of the outgoing winner Carlos Sainz (mini), which damaged a front wheel on his JCW Buggy and lost more than three hours before being able to leave shortly after 18 p.m. French time.

 Carlos Sainz is having a big trouble after a nasty puncture, losing all the chances to fight for the final win.

 @CSainz_oficial With serious problems following a problem, you have to overcome all the possibilities of cara a la victoria final.# Dakar2019 pic.twitter.com/QMjWnSgxPn

- DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 9, 2019

The double world rally champion's hopes of defending his title acquired at the Dakar in 2018, and of achieving a third success in the event, seem to have vanished in the Peruvian dunes.

Peterhansel and Al-Attiyah neck and neck

Starting 17th on the track after crashing into a dune yesterday, Stéphane Peterhansel started very strong from the start, passing the first WPs in 3rd then 2nd positions before taking the lead in WP3.

A place that the Frenchman will not relinquish until the finish, despite the constant pressure from Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota), who will only concede 3'26" at the finish on the winner of the day after having been the victim of 'a puncture.

Behind, the gaps are significant since everyone will have lost big in this 331 km long special. Jakub Przygonski (Mini) is closest to the Peterhansel – Al-Attiyah tandem by being in third position more than 11′ behind and ahead of Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Mini) and Nani Roma (Mini) who respectively lose 12’50″ and 18'12".

Cyril Despres (Mini) took the advantage at the very end of the race over Bernhard Ten Brinke (Toyota) for sixth place, but 28'04" and 31'45" behind Peterhansel. Victorious yesterday on the stage towards San Juan de Marcona, Sébastien Loeb (Peugeot ) will not have had the same success in opening the road, and is classified outside the top 10 with a delay of 42'55" on the winner Peterhansel.

Worse for Giniel de Villiers (Toyota), who led the standings this morning. The South African, provisionally 4th in the stage, was forced to stop at kilometer 172 following mechanical problems and lost his footing in the ranking.

 # Dakar2019 : A twist, the leader of the “Auto” category @TheRealGiniel broken down in the middle of a special
More Info  https://t.co/INbFbBkTjV
 : @JfKerckaert pic.twitter.com/jif6yvOxx6

- France tv sport (@francetvsport) 9th January 2019

Nasser Al-Attiyah therefore becomes the new leader overall with 6'48" ahead of the Mini of Yazeed Al-Rajhi and 7'03" over Stéphane Peterhansel. Nani Roma and Jakub Przygonski (Mini) remain in the same quarter of an hour as Al-Attiyah, when Despres, Ten Brinke and Loeb are 24′, 25′ and 37′ behind the Qatari.

Tomorrow, the competitors will head to Tacna, with 405 km of special which will make up the first part of the marathon stage.