Dakar 2013 Countdown - Fifth Win for Despres?
Coma dislocated his left shoulder after a crash in October's Morocco Rally. Late last month, Coma said has feeling "100%", but despite employing a range of recovery techniques, including the 'Coue Method' (a psychological technique using autosuggestion to "think" yourself better), the Catalan rider simply hasn't recovered enough to confidently undertake the physically demanding fortnight-long event, which starts on January 5.
With Coma out, you may think that Despres' victory in the 2013 Dakar is assured, but the French veteran doesn't see it that way. Acutely aware of the hazards of the event, Despres is not counting his chickens about the 'clear road' that has opened up before him: "Marc's Dakar came to an end on a lump of camel grass, one of the thousands we come across. When people tell me I'm on my own now I can't resist a little smile: we're going to have to deal with loads of camel grass, stones, climbs and descents", he says.
Despres could also benefit from a star adviser in the bivouac: "Marc has told me he will be in Lima, and if he stays on for the rally, it will certainly be advantageous in terms of strategy, preparation of the road-book, etc."
Accustomed to mainly focusing his energies on his own performance, Despres also points out that "several riders will now fancy their chances of a podium finish".
The withdrawal of Coma has opened the field for competitors who have previously finished behind him! If a similar mishap that befell Coma was to strike Despres, too, there are several possible candidates for the title.
- Francisco 'Chaleco' Lopez, 3rd in 2010, has an opportunity to win, and he has always done best on his home territory (4 stage wins in Chile)
- David Frétigné, 3rd in 2009, returns to the Dakar with Yamaha and a strong ambition
- Portuguese rider Helder Rodrigues, who has just left Yamaha for Honda, was the first rider on the heels of Despres and Coma in 2011 and 2012
- David Casteu, present on the last podium in Africa in 2007, is in with a shot, too.
Pundits also predict the 2013 running of the Dakar could see a 'generation handover' in the class. People who seemed to be waiting for their moment to come might think it is now time to knock the top riders off their pedestals. In this respect, and despite Coma's absence, the Catalan 'clan' is still well represented. His "water carrier" in recent years, Juan Pedrero, will not be on his leader's bike, handed over to the American all-terrain star Kurt Caselli, but he will still try to make the most of the gap left by coma.
The unobtrusive Jordi Viladoms, 4th in 2012, might also come out of his shell and grasp a potential opportunity. Above all, Joan Barreda has done brilliantly in the last two years, and at 29 years of age should show the maturity to fulfil his excellent promise. He was also the closest rider behind Despres during October's Morocco Rally. Fewer than seven minutes separated the two men at the finish, i.e. much less than anyone could lose due to an inner tube problem or fuel line problem or a small navigation mistake… or a lump of camel grass!
In any event, Despres will also need to keep an eye on Verhoeven, Gonçalves, Przygonski and company in the dunes, rocks and trails of South America.
The 2013 Dakar runs from January 5 to 20, 2013, and will take in Argentina, Chile and Peru. Further details can be found at www.dakar.com
Images: copyright A.S.O., courtesy of DPPI.
