Despres clinches third Dakar
By TMX Archives on 20th Jan 10
OVER the last two weeks T+MX has kept you up-to-date on the 32nd Dakar Rallye and this is the third and final report of the super-tough event, which has run through South America from January 1 to January 17, taking in a total of 14 competitive stages.
Here, we take you through stages nine to 14 inclusive as French ace Cyril Despres eased to his third Dakar victory. And we keep you informed of the day to day battles of the British and Irish competitors as they waged their own battles against the terrain and the elements...
Frenchman Cyril Despres celebrated his third Dakar Rallye victory and his most straightforward to date in Buenos Aires last Sunday. Once Marc Coma had been awarded a fistful of time penalties – one of which was controversial to say the least – Despres was able to control his pace at the head of the field to claim Dakar glory and add to the wins he achieved in 2005 and 2007. The Andorra-based rider won two stages and his winning margin was one hour, two minutes 52 seconds.
2010 DAKAR RALLYE
FINAL OVERALL RESULTS
after stage 14
1 Cyril Despres (F - KTM) 51:10:37
2 Pal-Anders Ullesvalseter (N - KTM) 52:13:29
3 Francesco Lopez (CHL - Aprilia) 52:20:25
4 Helder Rodrigues (P - Yamaha) 52:30:10
5 David Frétigné (F - Yamaha) 53:06:33
6 Alain Duclos (F - KTM) 53:09:12
7 Jonas Street (USA - KTM) 54:00:20
8 Jacub Przygonski (PL - KTM) 54:26:36
9 Olivier Pain (F - Yamaha) 54:38:57
10 Juan Pedrero Garcia (E - KTM) 54:44:25
British and Irish finishers
72 Paul Carlyle (GB - KTM) 92:29:45
83 Philip Noone (IRE - KTM) 103:48:13
87 Tamsin Jones (GB - Yamaha) 109:57:46
FOR FULL REPORT SEE T+MX NEWS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2010
After the final 206km sprint stage towards the village of San Carlos de Boliver Cyril Despres causes a champagne spray on the podium as he starts his celebrations.