Stage four of the Dakar 2021 was the longest so far, with an overall length of 813km, including the 337km special stage. Joan Barreda Bort finished the stage with the quickest time of 02:46:50 hours, taking the lead in the stage ranking. Following him was Monster Energy’s Yamaha’s Ross Branch, who trailed him by over two minutes.
The day commenced with KTM factory rider Toby Price in the lead, followed by Monster Energy Honda’s Kevin Benavides, who was leading yesterday but somehow couldn’t keep his pace right up to the finish line, and due to a 2-minute penalty stood fourth in the overall rankings. In third place was Matthias Walkner, ahead of Bas Dakar KTM’s Skyler Howes, the overall winner till Stage three.
After the 22km mark in the fourth-day special, Alexandre Azinhais's Dakar adventure came to an end due to a broken engine. But this was not all! At the 80km mark, stage leader Toby Price lost five minutes due to a navigation error. JBB capitalised on Price’s navigation error and was able to snatch the lead at the 125km mark. By the 178km mark, JBB had left the others far behind, with second-placed Ross branch about a minute and a half adrift.
JBB finished the stage with a time of 02:46:50 hours. Behind him was Monster Energy Yamaha’s Ross Branch with a difference of 05:57 minutes and at P3 was Australian KTM rider Daniel Sanders, a difference of 06:09 minutes between him and the leader. After JBB finished the stage, the overall rankings had Husqvarna rider Xavier De Soultrant taking the lead, followed by JBB, with Kevin Benavides standing third.
Stay tuned for Stage five updates which starts from Riyadh to Al Qaisumah, a distance of 662km, including a special of 456km.