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

2023 Dakar Rally – Stage 13
Shaybah – Al-Hofuf

Photos by Rally Zone

The penultimate stage of the 2023 Dakar Rally from Shaybah and Al-Hofuf featured a protracted 520 km liaison, with shorter 153 km particular part, with riders browsing the dunes for the final time, heading to the seashore tomorrow. Toby Worth retained his total lead within the rankings as soon as the outcomes have been collated, from arduous 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 Worth completed in fifth, however with Benavides now shifting into second total, a mere 12 seconds behind, the race to the end line in Dammam on Sunday’s last stage will likely 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, which means Kevin will likely be second-to-last away, adopted by Toby.

Toby Worth – P5

“It’s been a busy day on the market as we speak. I caught the fellows 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 somewhat 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 somewhat time getting again on track. I actually pushed arduous all day, with the objective to nonetheless be within the lead going into the ultimate day. I managed to try this, so I’m happy, however it’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 total and lengthening his lead over eighth, however dropping time on the leaders.

Daniel Sanders – P11

“It was a fairly difficult however satisfying day up entrance as we speak. The dunes have been actually delicate which made it arduous to keep up a quick tempo whereas attempting to navigate, and between the waypoints there have been some huge gaps, which added to the problem. However I pushed on one of the best I may to not lose an excessive amount of time and I feel I did a fairly good job. There have been undoubtedly a couple of shut calls on the market however that’s all a part of the enjoyable of using by the dunes!”

Kevin Benavides endured a tricky stint within the desert, setting off fifth, the 2021 Dakar winner knew the penultimate stage of the occasion would provide one of the best probability to make up floor on teammate, rival, and total rally chief Toby Worth. Nonetheless, at round 55 km into the particular, Kevin reached Matthias Walkner who had crashed.

Staying along with his fellow Pink Bull KTM racer till the medical crew arrived price Benavides round 23 minutes. After rejoining the race Kevin pushed arduous 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 total standings.

Kevin Benavides – P1

“It’s at all times a troublesome 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 advised me to hold on. I pushed arduous for the remainder of the stage, however it’s difficult to focus after seeing one thing like that. To win the stage is wonderful, and to be second total and so near Toby is much more of a shock. With in the future left all I can do is strive my greatest and the outcomes will likely 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, probably from pushing somewhat too arduous. However after that, I discovered my rhythm and was in a position to push once more. Halfway by the stage I noticed Matthias (Walkner) on the bottom with the helicopter. Clearly, I hope all the pieces is comfortable with him and need him a speedy restoration. After that, I carried on to the end and suppose 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 loads initially after which I jumped actually excessive in a dune and that was like a joker. It was type of scary. I used to be attempting to go quick however secure on the identical time however that was not simple, because of the many drops within the dunes. Total we’re in the identical place. I feel that is my greatest Dakar, with a really strong efficiency. There’s nonetheless yet another day to go so let’s battle till the top.”

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

Skyler Howes – P7

“Nicely, I undoubtedly gave my all as we speak – I pushed proper from the beginning as arduous as I may. After I noticed that Walkner had crashed, it affected my focus somewhat bit. There have been some actually huge dunes as we speak, I had huge jumps off the highest of them myself, too. That was a little bit of a deciding issue, I actually needed to push and attempt to get the win, however I need to ensure that I can full the race as nicely. I missed one waypoint afterward, and that meant circling round to select it up, so I misplaced somewhat little bit of time there. I’m nonetheless within the battle for the win, and I’ve to be tremendous proud of how this race as gone up so far. I can by no means look again and say I didn’t strive my greatest. I’m wanting ahead to tomorrow, it’s going to be a brief however quick stage with little scope to make up time I feel, so the objective 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 journey, with many dunes. I used to be using with a superb rhythm from the start and total it was a superb stage. Yet one more day to go and I do know I gave all the pieces in every stage, so that’s the means 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 troublesome day, as a result of I needed to open the stage. We misplaced a while like regular, I did one of the 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 desperate 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 Worth 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 comfy 26 seconds. The earlier report within the bike class had been set not too way back. In 2019, Pablo Quintanilla began 1′02″ behind… Toby Worth himself.

The Australian romped to victory in Lima, taking his second title after his success in 2016. So as to add damage to insult, the Chilean, using a Husqvarna, ended up sore after he pancaked into the bottom from a dune bounce. Barring crew 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 respiratory 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 total.

Stage 14 Route (Closing)

The final stage of this yr’s Dakar Rally will full the journey across the purple sea, main the caravan to the shores of the Arabian Gulf in Dammam. There will likely 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 likely be a reverse begin, which 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 Total After Stage 13 (Provisional)

2023 Dakar Rally Schedule