Dakar 2006 - Stage 13

[klaus]

stage 13 - Friday 13 January 2006 | Labé > Tambacounda (http://www.dakar.com/2006/DAK/LIVE/us/1300/parcours.html)
Connection 7 km
Special 348 km
Connection 212 km
Total 567 km
Sarakole country

The Dakar can have mountain stages. Even if there is no need for oxygen masks, the rally will reach its high point on this special, verging on 1,000 m in some passes. As with the previous day, the tracks will be narrow, and dust will make overtaking very difficult.



http://www.dakar.com/PHOTOS/DAK/2006/1300/PARCOURS.gif


http://www.dakar.com/PHOTOS/DAK/2006/1300/FRANCE_ETAPE.jpg

[Alliturken]

Well, not so great today for Miller. Got passed by quite a few cars, lost time to Peterhansel. I don't know if they had trouble with punctures, or what. De Villers had the chance to pressure Alphand, but never got close enough to really do it. Today was his chance. I guess something could happen tomorrow, but the stage is not very long.

Chase 2: All that strategy stuff I was hoping for yesterday....not ONE BIT of it actually happened, whether they were actually thinking that way or not! :o

[Chase 2]

Well, not so great today for Miller.

Chase 2: All that strategy stuff I was hoping for yesterday....not ONE BIT of it actually happened, whether they were actually thinking that way or not! :o

Ahh, the best laid plans....(assuming there were plans that is). We'll have to wait until later when Mark calls in to find out what happened I guess. Punctures, water crossing drowning out, the way the tracking jumps around on the replay, they could have had navigation problems. I'm not saying anyting else in order to prevent jinxing!

[Ryan_Arciero]

I haven't heard yet but I think Mark had some rear hub problems on today's stage. Too bad, but he is still fifth overall. Not too bad at all.

[Offspring]

I haven't heard yet but I think Mark had some rear hub problems on today's stage. Too bad, but he is still fifth overall. Not too bad at all.

Understatement of the year. Still a GREAT run, and a couple more to go.

[Chase 2]

Information from Dirk’s Blog (zitzewitz.com) indicates that Mark & Dirk broke a rear tie rod causing a half hour delay to repair it. After patching it back together they still had to cruse as they lacked proper spacers to tighten it up right. Still in 5th overall with one stage left to go.

[Alliturken]

That certainly explains it.

For sure, 5th place in Dakar is awfully damn good.

[KoKoENS]

Hey Guys, don't forget Chris Blais, he's 4th OA on the bike's!!! GO CHRIS!!!:D :D

[Chase 2]

Hey Guys, don't forget Chris Blais, he's 4th OA on the bike's!!! GO CHRIS!!!:D :D

Hey!! You are absolutely right!! A job well done by both Chris & Mark. Have you guys noticed that their overall times are both real close at 54hrs 20 something min?

[Alliturken]

Hey Guys, don't forget Chris Blais, he's 4th OA on the bike's!!! GO CHRIS!!!:D :D

Been following him and Jonah Street every day, (and Grider before he fell). Fantastic effort from these guys. Blais could win the thing next year after a 9th last yr and 4th this year. He's a solid Dakar vet at now at 25, and hanging with the legends.

Amazes me that Street is riding every stage with a backpack, due to his modest level of support at the race. Pretty cool that he is top 20.