Dakar 2020: Zala surprises, Sainz responds and Alonso looks despite suffering two punctures

The Lithuanian Mini driver wins the primary stage forward of Peterhansel and Sainz, which ended at 2:50. Fernando Alonso saves his premiere with an 11th place, after capturing to the rhythm of the very best

Fernando Alonso, in the course of the first stage of the Dakar.

ANDRE PAIN EFE

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The Lithuanian Vaidotas Zala (Mini) gave the bell within the Dakar to win the primary stage forward of all the favourite drivers of the rally, together with Fernando Alonso (Toyota), which debuted with a exceptional efficiency the place he was 15 minutes from the primary chief of the race. On the wheel of one in every of Mini's 4x4s, Zala was the quickest automobile of the day by finishing in Three hours, 19 minutes and four seconds the timed stretch of the inaugural stage, which had 319 kilometers between the Saudi cities of Jeddah and Al Wajh . The Frenchman Stphane Peterhansel (Mini), 13 instances winner of the Dakar, was second at 2:14, whereas Carlos Sainz (Mini) was solely 36 seconds behind the French.

However, Qatar Nasser Al Attiyah (Toyota), the present Dakar champion, scored the very best instances within the first half of the stage, however he was left with out the triumph of the day due to three punctures within the remaining a part of the route. Additionally, Spanish Joan 'Nani' Rome, which was second within the common classification final yr, had a nasty debut on the wheel of the German model Borgward on the finish of the day 28 minutes from Zala.

The Lithuanian took middle stage of a day that had begun with the sights set on the debut of Fernando Alonso within the Dakar, the place he had a exceptional efficiency on the finish of the eleventh place, 15 minutes from the very best time. The Spaniard was capable of roll to the rhythm of the very best of the Dakar caravan in some sectors, however the lack of expertise and a few punctures didn’t permit him to be up in his profession premiere.

Not like in recent times, the place the Dakar was inaugurated with a prologue stage of some kilometers as a warm-up, this time the rally started strongly, and a journey on its first day of 752 kilometers, of which 319 timed.

The navigation was not simple both, as a result of it had a little bit of the whole lot. First, a sequence of sinuous tracks in dry canyons and roses and then give approach to the primary dunes of this Dakar. Then the pilots went by a bit of interconnected dust roads the place it was simple to get disoriented and then gave approach to one other phase of dry roses that ended up in a quick and great distance.

Toby Value begins robust

The Australian Toby Value (KTM), the present Dakar champion, started defending his title by profitable the inaugural stage. Value complet in 3: 19.22, forward of the American Ricky Brabec (Honda), 2 minutes and 5 seconds; and the Australian Matthias Walkner, 2 minutes and 40 seconds. Spanish Joan Barreda (Honda) completed seventh to seven minutes and 51 seconds.

The Spaniards Joan Pedrero Garca and Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) had been the primary to begin this Dakar and needed to open the path to the remainder of the caravan, which damage them on the finish of the day, as a result of they accomplished the route 25 minutes slower than Value. For its half, Laia Sanz, which was the eleventh to begin the stage, completed within the twenty-first place, nearly 24 minutes from his teammate.