Dakar Stage 13 (Saturday) overview, outcomes | Value leads by 12s

2023 Dakar Rally – Stage 13
Shaybah – Al-Hofuf

Pictures by Rally Zone

The penultimate stage of the 2023 Dakar Rally from Shaybah and Al-Hofuf featured an extended 520 km liaison, with shorter 153 km particular part, with riders browsing the dunes for the final time, heading to the seashore tomorrow. Toby Value retained his general lead within the rankings as soon as the outcomes had been collated, from laborious charging teammate and stage winner Kevin Benavides, with the Aussie’s lead – beforehand over Skyler Howes – narrowing.

Regardless of a small crash and a navigational error, Toby Value completed in fifth, however with Benavides now shifting into second general, a mere 12 seconds behind, the race to the end line in Dammam on Sunday’s closing stage will probably be intense. As per the Dakar Rally guidelines, riders will set off in reverse order to the final standings tomorrow in a 153 km dash, that means Kevin will probably be second-to-last away, adopted by Toby.

Toby Value – P5

“It’s been a busy day on the market as we speak. I caught the blokes in entrance at about km 90 and thought to myself, if I need to win this race, I’ve to be out entrance and seize that bonus a bit of bit. I had a small crash the place I used to be targeted on the highest of 1 dune, misplaced the entrance, and fell over. Then round km 130 we simply went barely too far proper and misplaced a bit of time getting again on target. I actually pushed laborious all day, with the aim to nonetheless be within the lead going into the ultimate day. I managed to do this, so I’m happy, but it surely’s nonetheless extremely tight on the prime. Tomorrow actually goes to be a race to the end line, however I’ll give all of it I’ve and see the place we find yourself.”

Dakar additionally noticed Daniel Sanders as soon as once more assist to open the particular following his sturdy runner-up end yesterday, which the challenges that ensue, and completed the day in eleventh, retaining seventh general and increasing his lead over eighth, however shedding time on the leaders.

Daniel Sanders – P11

“It was a fairly tough however pleasurable day up entrance as we speak. The dunes had been actually mushy which made it laborious to take care of a quick tempo whereas making an attempt to navigate, and between the waypoints there have been some large gaps, which added to the problem. However I pushed on the very best I may to not lose an excessive amount of time and I believe I did a fairly good job. There have been undoubtedly just a few shut calls on the market however that’s all a part of the enjoyable of driving by way of the dunes!”

Kevin Benavides endured a troublesome stint within the desert, setting off fifth, the 2021 Dakar winner knew the penultimate stage of the occasion would supply the very best likelihood to make up floor on teammate, rival, and general rally chief Toby Value. Nonetheless, at round 55 km into the particular, Kevin reached Matthias Walkner who had crashed.

Staying together with his fellow Pink Bull KTM racer till the medical group arrived price Benavides round 23 minutes. After rejoining the race Kevin pushed laborious for the end, making up good time within the course of. After having the misplaced minutes returned to him, Benavides topped the stage by a decent 27 seconds – sufficient to provisionally transfer him up into second within the general standings.

Kevin Benavides – P1

“It’s at all times a tough day once you see somebody has had a crash, and it’s worse when it’s your teammate. I stayed with Matthias till assist arrived and though he was in some ache, he then informed me to hold on. I pushed laborious for the remainder of the stage, but it surely’s tough to focus after seeing one thing like that. To win the stage is superb, and to be second general and so near Toby is much more of a shock. With someday left all I can do is strive my greatest and the outcomes will probably be determined on the end line.”

Michael Docherty was second, adopted by Luciano Benavides, who was initially quickest throughout the end line, however a one-minute penalty dropped the quantity 77 to second, which was then corrected to 3rd place after Luciano’s brother Kevin was rewarded time misplaced for aiding a fallen rider, adopted by Adrien Van Beveren.

Luciano Benavides – P3

“The stage was good – round 150 km of dunes. I had a small crash close to the start, presumably from pushing a bit of too laborious. However after that, I discovered my rhythm and was in a position to push once more. Halfway by way of the stage I noticed Matthias (Walkner) on the bottom with the helicopter. Clearly, I hope every part is pleased with him and need him a speedy restoration. After that, I carried on to the end and assume I did a superb job. It wasn’t fairly sufficient to win the stage, however I’m proud of how I rode.”

Adrien Van Beveren – P4

“I pushed so much at the start after which I jumped actually excessive in a dune and that was like a joker. It was sort of scary. I used to be making an attempt to go quick however protected on the similar time however that was not simple, because of the many drops within the dunes. General we’re in the identical place. I believe that is my greatest Dakar, with a really strong efficiency. There’s nonetheless yet another day to go so let’s struggle till the tip.”

Toby Value raced to fifth, forward of Romain Dumontier, whereas Skyler Howes was the sixth rider by way of the gate for the morning and maintained a robust tempo to the end, regardless of a few errors alongside the way in which, ending seventh, two-seconds away from Pablo Quintanilla.

Skyler Howes – P7

“Properly, I undoubtedly gave my all as we speak – I pushed proper from the beginning as laborious as I may. After I noticed that Walkner had crashed, it affected my focus a bit of bit. There have been some actually large dunes as we speak, I had large jumps off the highest of them myself, too. That was a little bit of a deciding issue, I actually wished to push and try to get the win, however I need to make it possible for I can full the race as properly. I missed one waypoint afterward, and that meant circling round to choose it up, so I misplaced a bit of little bit of time there. I’m nonetheless within the struggle for the win, and I’ve to be tremendous proud of how this race as gone up up to now. I can by no means look again and say I didn’t strive my greatest. I’m trying ahead to tomorrow, it’s going to be a brief however quick stage with little scope to make up time I believe, so the aim is to get my Husqvarna to the end line in a single piece and hopefully in a superb place.”

Pablo Quintanilla – P8

“This was a fairly enjoyable stage to trip, with many dunes. I used to be driving with a superb rhythm from the start and general it was a superb stage. Another day to go and I do know I gave every part in every stage, so that’s the approach I plan to maintain till the final km.”

Tosha Shcareina and Ross Department rounded out the highest 10 for the day, adopted by Sanders, then Sebastian Buhler, Franco Caimi and Jose Cornejo, with Jacob Argubright fifteenth.

José Ignacio Cornejo – P14

“I knew this was going to be a tough day, as a result of I needed to open the stage. We misplaced a while like regular, I did the very best I may so it was not so unhealthy. I used to be feeling good and I’m glad all my teammates may additionally return safely to the bivouac. Now let’s proceed and provides all we will within the final stage.”

Matthias Walkner got here into stage 13 desirous to impress as soon as once more. Sadly, a crash on the km 55 mark introduced an finish to his stage and his rally. The Austrian suffered trauma to his decrease again and has been airlifted to hospital in Dammam for additional checks.

Rankings after Dakar Stage 13

2021 Dakar champion Kevin Benavides is barely 12 seconds behind Australian Toby Value with one stage to go, one thing that has by no means occurred earlier than within the Dakar. At this stage of the race in 2014, Peterhansel led Roma by a relatively snug 26 seconds. The earlier document within the bike class had been set not too way back. In 2019, Pablo Quintanilla began 1′02″ behind… Toby Value himself.

The Australian romped to victory in Lima, taking his second title after his success in 2016. So as to add harm to insult, the Chilean, driving a Husqvarna, ended up sore after he pancaked into the bottom from a dune soar. Barring group orders within the Austrian clan, a 153 km dash will unfold tomorrow, maybe resulting in the narrowest margin of victory within the historical past of the Dakar.

Behind the main KTM duo is Skyler Howes, 1m31s off the lead, and 14-minutes away from fourth positioned Adrien Van Beveren, providing some respiration room for the highest three.

Pablo Quintanilla and Luciano Benavides are 15m59s and 18m29s off the lead, adopted by Daniel Sanders in seventh, now 22m34s off main tempo.

Jose Cornejo, Lorenzo Santolino and Franco Caimi full the top-10 general.

Stage 14 Route (Remaining)

The final stage of this yr’s Dakar Rally will full the journey across the crimson sea, main the caravan to the shores of the Arabian Gulf in Dammam. There will probably be a liaison of 270 km from Al-Hofuf and a particular part 136 km lengthy – an unusually quick seashore part earlier than reaching the ultimate podium ceremony that celebrates all finishers of this nice journey. Tomorrow there will probably be a reverse begin, that means the slowest will open and the highest contenders shut the stage.

Stage 13 Highlights Video

2023 Dakar Rally Stage 13 Outcomes (Provisional)

2023 Dakar Rally General After Stage 13 (Provisional)

2023 Dakar Rally Schedule