Trucker Janus van Kasteren is doing very well. The driver from Veldhoven wins the stage in the Dakar Rally for the second day in a row. After Friday’s prologue, he was also the fastest in the first serious stage.
Van Kasteren was the first to start after winning the prologue. That is not necessarily an advantage in the Dakar Rally because you often have to make the first tracks in the sand. Those left behind can follow this trail.
But from the first intermediate point, Van Kasteren was the fastest and did not relinquish the lead in the 414 kilometer long stage. He finished first with a lead of 4.18 minutes over number two Gert Huzink.
Shorter stage
The stage was delayed and shortened by an hour at the trucks due to an accident with a photographer. The buggies drove a full stage.
Paul Spierings rode a great stage in the buggies. He mixed with the big boys and finished in eleventh place.
It was a tough day for Jeffrey Otten and Jan-Willem van Mourik. Both drivers are still in the desert late in the evening. Debutant Martijn van den Broek rode an excellent first stage with a thirteenth place.
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