Bikesportnz

Three different leaders after three days, it shows the 2023 Dakar Rally is at least unpredictable and, at best, a thrill a minute.

Three stages into the Dakar Rally and Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing’s Daniel Sanders has raced to his first stage win of the 2023 event, moving into the provisional overall lead.

Seizing the opportunity to make up considerable time on his rivals, Sanders did so with a dominant stage victory and now enjoys a more-than-four-minute advantage at the head of the field.

“Yeah, that’ll do! It’s nice to get a stage win and be leading, for sure,” said Sanders.

“I knew my pace was good and I felt strong today, so after refuelling I pushed on to the end. I had a great chance to make some time up today, which I did, and now I’m leading so it’s all good! Tomorrow will be tough though as I’ll be leading out, so it’ll be important to stay focused, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Continuing with his positive start to this year’s Dakar, Sanders excelled through the sandy stage three to not only win but turn a three-minute deficit into a four-minute advantage at the top of the results.

But tomorrow is when things might get interesting for the Aussie charger.

As the first rider to enter stage four, the Red Bull GasGas racer will be the first to carve a line through the rolling sand dunes, to the benefit of his chasing competitors.

But given his current confidence and precise navigating skills, should Sanders clock in with another solid result, it would be an incredibly pivotal day in the desert for our man from down under.

Photo courtesy GasGas

Find BikesportNZ.com on FACEBOOK here

Share