Team Dessoude: Red flag on Fiambala’s stage! 17.01.2013: 2013 DAKAR Leg 11 - 16th of Januaray 2013 La Rioja / Fiambala : 452km - Liaisons : 262km - SS : stopped at km 84

2013 DAKAR Leg 11 - 16th of Januaray 2013
La Rioja / Fiambala : 452km - Liaisons : 262km - SS : stopped at km 84



Something can always happen in Fiambala ... Last year, while competitors feared that area in the white dunes, the rain changed the situation and the expected soft sand was steady. For this 35th edition of the Dakar, in Fiambala no exception to the rule.


Heavy rains in recent days have once again made the sand very buoyant but waterlogged Rios became impassable barriers, trapping race cars and trucks during the stage. In the first third of the course, the rising water was such that the race was red-flagged (like three days ago on the leg to Tucuman). Classification is therefore stopped at km 84, at CP1.


After a good start, Christian Lavieille saw its progress stopped. At CP1, point of neutralization of the race, the Juke Buggy was on 21st position. Last car to reach that point, Christian’s time will be the reference time which will be applied to all other competitors who did not reach the CP. Yves Tartarin and Frédéric Chavigny will be credited with this time. In overall classification, no change for Team Dessoude.
 

This leg was announced as difficult but not necessarily for the reasons that led to its neutralization. Heavy storms were forecasted in Fiambala region but the water rose abruptly in the rivers, especially those located at km 69 and 85 of the route of the day. For safety reasons, the race was neutralized at CP 1.


Facing changing weather conditions, Christian Lavieille and Jean-Michel Polato decided to follow their luck and to cross the swollen Rios.



"Good pace, but short! At the beginning the sand was steady and on the usual uphill in this stage, we did not have any temperature problem. Over the miles, we saw the black clouds pile up over the mountains, which did not bode well. We crossed a first small river where the water began to rise, but at the second we saw competitors stuck. So we decided to try our luck a few miles away.


Two cars were already there, trying to find a solution. I crossed by foot to assess the depth and with these two cars, we agreed to tow each other in case of problem. The Polish driver crossed first and then I did. The water was quickly digging the shore of the Rio and after a while they were crumbling.


 We lost few minutes to find the right way but this is the Dakar ... When we arrived at CP 1, we were stopped and informed that the race was neutralized. Definitely, the weather teased the race this year!"


Christian Lavieille was the last to join CP 1, his time will be the reference time to be applied to all the other competitors who were unable to reach the control. Among them, Frédéric Chavigny and Yves Tartarin. Positions in the overall standings are unchanged.


In the 12th stage, another busy day for the remain competitors. For the second time, the caravan will cross the Andes but this time in the east-west direction by the Paseo de San Francisco (4 748m), the link between the Argentine province of Catamarca and the Chilean side, the region of Atacama.


The capital of the region of Atacama, Copiapo, will welcome the bivouac. On the sporting view, this is on this stage that competitors will find the famous cathedral dunes and monumental depressions... On the 319 km of the special stage, beware of traps!
 
 
     
 
Géraldine DESHAYES, photos DPPI