Loeb clear winner on return to Arequipa, Al-Attiyah increases his lead

Friday offered the peloton of survivors in the Auto category of this Dakar 2019 the longest portion against the clock, with 517 competitive km to return to Arequipa, the end of the famous and feared marathon stage.

At the end of a journey that almost seemed like a solo rider, Sébastien Loeb, associated to daniel helena (author of serious rant against the organizer before the departure this Friday), established itself with its Peugeot 3008 DKR – PH Sport.

The Frenchman quickly took control of the day's classification in the first part of the ES, at WP3 level, never to relinquish leadership and gradually increase his lead, including after the neutralization (66 km) preceding the 136 last timed kilometers.

The summary of the first special of the day! With Sébastien Loeb at full throttle and Nasser Al-Attiyah manager! The second special is still in progress! # Dakar2019 pic.twitter.com/iyjhDO2UQl

- France tv sport (@francetvsport) January 11, 2019

Pushed back more than 50′ this morning in the general standings, Loeb gave everything and won with a 10’22” lead over Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota) who maneuvered perfectly today to contain the attacks of his rival Stéphane Peterhansel (Mini).

The two main rivals for the final victory in Lima played the game of observation at the start of the stage, before the Qatari sounded the charge shortly after WP6.

The former double winner of the event especially took advantage of the loss of time of the record holder for victories at the 478th kilometer (stuck in fesh-fesh as reported by Gaël Robic, France TV journalist) to regain 16′ from Peterhansel, fourth on the finish line this Friday evening behind Nani Roma (Mini), 3rd, 24′ behind Loeb.

# Dakar2019 Landed in the fesh fesh 30KM from the finish, Stephane Peterhansel was taken out by Nani Roma @francetvsport

— gael robic (@gael_robic) January 11, 2019

The top 5 of the day is completed by Jakub Przygonski who also places his Mini more than 26′ from Sébastien Loeb.

Note that Carlos Sainz (Mini) and Cyril Despres (Mini) still left minutes per pack on the road, after having been put in the right car until WP4. Despres gives up more than 32′ at the finish, when Sainz ranks at 43′.

In the general classification before the rest day tomorrow Saturday, Nasser Al-Attiyah consolidates his position at the head of the race with now 24'42" ahead of Peterhansel. Nani Roma remains 3rd at 34′ and precedes Jakub Przygonski (+ 38'12") and Sébastien Loeb, back 40′ from Al-Attiyah.

The big loser of the day seems to be Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Mini), 5th overall last night, and who lost time from the start of the special according to the live timing of the Dakar. The Saudi was almost an hour and a half away from neutralization.