- The HIMOINSA Team sets off in this 40th Edición of the Dakar Rally with the aim of improving on Gerard Farrés’ third place in 2017.
- The HIMOINSA Racing Team riders overcome the rally’s first stage with no setbacks and a conservative approach.
January 6th, 2018
Pisco (Peru). Dakar Rally is on! The HIMOINSA Team starts its engines at full power with the will to fight for glory in this new edition of the South American race.
Rosa Romero was the first to cross the Start Podium on a ceremonial day, followed by her four companions in a festive atmosphere which escorted them all the way to Pisco.
The action started with just the 31 kilometers of the first special stage, which was entirely off track with sand and technical terrain in the first dunes. It consisted of a loop departing and arriving at the same place, with a complicated section halfway through the special with high dunes and steep descents. The day went well for the HIMOINSA Team, with all riders across the finish line. The short stage was perfect for getting into the race pace after a long wait for all the riders since they arrived in Peru.
Released from the dreadful nervousness of the first stage, the race is already underway and will stay in Pisco for 2 days, as it will be another closed loop tomorrow with its departure and arrival in the vicinity of this beautiful Peruvian city.
Gerard Farrés (@gerardfarres): “First day of racing! Only 30 km but dangerous anyway. At km 10 I saw Joaquim Rodrigues being helped out, he’s out of the race. That made me take it even more carefully because in the off-piste, dangers are not as clear and are difficult to see. We have been able to test the bike in race conditions and I have not had any surprises, although the navigation has been very complicated, with tracks going everywhere. As always, I started with great caution, today I just wanted to get across the finish line, and that’s just what we did. We have not made mistakes and I think we are very well prepared for what is to come, but I am sure that we wil be surprised at some point, we will have to be very focused and cautious.”
Iván Cervantes (@IvanCervantes25): “Today we had a short special, but a long day in liaison kilometers. We left the Podium at Lima and rode 240Km along the Panamerican. The stage has been good for me, without mistakes. The whole route was on sand, without too many difficulties but with some very technical and tall dunes. I nailed the navigation, which today was not that easy, and above all, the sensations are good, we started well. We must keep pushing because we still have the whole race ahead of us. ”
Dani Oliveras (@danioliveras_21): “I was really eager to get started. This was not just an introduction stage, it required hard work, paying attention to the directions, as it was very easy to get lost. We also rode through some stepped out dunes, even some with two vertical steps, which were very delicate. I came across many disoriented riders, and the Sentinel went off several times to warn me that someone was coming head on towards me. I liked the stage, but I was very calm because it was very easy to make a mistake. ”
Rosa Romero (@RosaRomeroFont): “The worst day is out of the way! For me the first day is the worst of all because of the nerves at the start of the race. Today I took a weight off my shoulders because we are already done and without any issues. It was a very sandy start, but we had been warned, so I took it very calmly and I rode very well, without problems and at a good pace in a group with other rivals. The sun was really low, and visibility was not the best, which was another factor to complicate the stage. However, it was a good day, I am very happy. ”
Marc Solà (@marcsola34): “I finally started this Dakar with the HIMOINSA Team. We have been working all year and now it is time to reward them for the trust they have placed in me. Today I rode with great confidence, but very calm. The KTM worked phenomenally, and little by little it will increase my potential. I had trouble validating a waypoint, had to turn around and mark it correctly. I rode right by and by a few meters it didn’t validate. Nothing serious, but it is a sign that we have to be very focused from the beginning, the time to attack will come later on.”
Classification: Stage 1 (provisional*)
1st S. Sunderland (20:56)
2nd Van Beveren (+0.30)
3rd Quintanilla (+0: 55)
17th Gerard Farrés (+03.30)
21st Iván Cervantes (+04.00)
30th Dani Oliveras (+05.05)
53rd Marc Solà (+08.16)
69th Rosa Romero (+10.10)
Overall Classification (provisional*)
1st S. Sunderland (20:56)
2nd Van Beveren (+0.30)
3rd Quintanilla (+0: 55)
17th Gerard Farrés (+03.30)
21st Iván Cervantes (+04.00)
30th Dani Oliveras (+05.05)
53rd Marc Solà (+08.16)
69th Rosa Romero (+10.10)
Next stage: Pisco – Pisco (Special: 267 km – Total: 278 km)
