This is what the virtual classification of Dakar 2024 looks like in the first part of stage 6: Sainz, new leader

The stage 6 of Dakar 2024 is marked in red on everyone’s calendar, a 48-hour special, which is almost 600 kilometers to complete in two consecutive days, without mechanical assistance after the first day, where the pilots have to sleep in a tent, eat military rations and receive no mechanical assistance. Carlos prepared it perfectly, as if it were an opposition. He deliberately lost time in stage 5 to attack from a delayed starting position here stage 6 against an Al-Attiyah which did the complete opposite: win stage 5 and open the track in this sixth special, which started today. And Sainz nailed it.

Sainz finished the day 5th, 11 minutes behind the overall leaderAl-Rajhi, and just over two and a half minutes from Al-Attiyah. But Yazeed He withdrew due to a mechanical problem and Al-Attiyah sank on the opening track in the first stage of this super marathon while Carlos destroyed everything with a devastating speed at the wheel of his Audi.

Ekström, Al-Attiyah and Chicherit They arrived at the 5th camp of a total of 7 set on the route. Sainz decided to lose some time at that end to sleep in the 4th camp and go out on the attack with the least destroyed track in the 30 kilometers that would take him to that 5th point, to follow those line left. Al-Attiyah and company when they open the track from that location to the end of the stage. So, the reference time for the virtual general classification should be that of the 4th camp, at kilometer 458 of the 570 planned for stage 6. That means Carlos has 150 left to complete stage 6 in the second part of this marathon stage this Friday.

Carlos Sainz was the outstanding leader at that point of kilometer 458, with a 4’31” advantage over his teammate Mattias Ekström, a 5’19” margin over Sébastien Loeb and 19’15” over Lucas Moraes, co-piloted by Armand Monleón Eryk Goczal and Catalan co-driver Oriol Mena entered the Top-5 scratch with a T3 vehicle, a light prototype, while Al-Attiyah lost a lot of time: 24 minutes and 9 seconds compared to Carlos.

Nasser Al-Attiyah must complete the last 112 kilometers of the stage from camp E and Sainz, the last 150. For his part, the day was one to forget for Peterhansel, who stayed in camp C (the new Sainz ) who lost by 2h08 ‘ 54″.

This is how the Dakar general classification looks at km 458 of stage 6 (point D):

1. Carlos Sainz-Lucas Cruz (ESP/Audi) at 22h18’52”
2. Mattias Ekström (Sue/Audi) in 16’56”
3. Nasser Al Attiyah (QAT/BRX) in 21’58”
4. Sebastien Loeb (FRA/BRX) in 37’25”
5. Guillaume de Mevius (BEL/Toyota) aa 1h01’37”
6. Lucas Moraes-Monleón (BR/Toyot) in 1h’02’41”
7. Mathieu Serradori (FRA/Century) in 1h04’17”
8. Giniel De Villiers (RSA/Toyota) in 1h21’48”
9. M. Prokop (RCHE/Ford) in 1h30’38”
10. Mr. Botterill (RSA/Toyota) in 1’43″11″

14. Nani Roma-Alex Haro (ESP/Ford) in 1h59’26”

17. Laia Sanz (ESP/Astara) in 2h26’46”

20. Isidre Esteve-Villalobos (ESP/Toyota) in 3h’05’40”

Rest at point C: Peterhansel, 2h08’54” overall.

PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION STAGE 6 (POINT D):

1. Carlos Sainz-Lucas Cruz (ESP/Audi) in 5h2’00”
2. Mattias Ekström (Sue/Audi) in 4’31”
3. Sebastien Loeb (FRA/BRX) at 5’19”
4. Lucas Moraes-Monleón (BR/Toyota) in 19’15”
5. Eryk Goczal-Oriol Mena (Pol-Esp/Taurus)* Category T3 in 23’48”
6. Nasser Al Attiyah (QAT/BRX) in 24’09”
7. G. Chicherit (FRA/Toyota) at 26’23”
8. Seth Quintero (USA/Toyota) in 30’20”
9. M. Prokop (RCH/Ford) in 31’24”
10. G, by Mevius (BEL/Toyota) in 32’25”

Kilometer point D of the stage:

13. Nani Roma-Alex Haro (ESP/Ford) at 46’20”

22. Isidre Esteve-Villalobos (E/Toyot) in 1h06’30”

23. Laia Sanz (ESP/Astara) in 1h12’10”

They rest at point A:

50. JC Yacopini-Oliveras (ARG-E/Toys) in 2h17’45”