Australia’s Andy Caldecott, riding a KTM, won the third stage of the Dakar Rally from Nador to Er Rachidia on Monday, fully justifying his late call-up to the race.
Caldecott won the 314km timed section in three hours, 21 minutes and 11 seconds from American Andy Grider by 3:04 and by 3:06 from Cyril Despres of France.
Reigning champion Despres took the lead in the overall standings ahead of Spaniards Marc Coma and Jose Manuel Pellicer.
Caldecott admitted he was stunned to have won the stage as he had only been granted entry after Spaniard Jordi Duran had pulled out after suffering an injury in the middle of December.
”I am pretty surprised to have won the stage,” said Caldecott, who won two stages last year. ”Only because I arrived for the Dakar at the last minute without really being prepared for it.
”I thought, however, I might be lucky because I started from 25th position and that made it easier in terms of navigating the route.”
France’s two-time winner Jean-Louis Schlesser won the car section in 2:50:58 ahead of Japan’s Hiroshi Masuoka by 19 seconds, with defending champion Stephane Peterhansel of France 37 seconds back.
Spain’s Nani Roma leads overall ahead of Masuoka and Frenchman Bruno Saby.
Schlesser said while some outside the team would be surprised, his victory would not have come as one to his Schlesser-Ford team.
”There are some who will be surprised, but not us, because we are confident,” said Schlesser, who won in 1999 and 2000.
”We will definitely be there at the end because we have a good car and a good team,” added Schlesser, who was winning his first stage since the 17th one in the 2001 edition.
On Tuesday, the rally sees the 639km fourth stage from Er Rachidia to Ouarzazate, in the centre of Morocco, which includes a 386km timed section. — Sapa-AFP