Declarations
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Hans Stacey (HOL – MAN – 1er)
"It has been a long day, with very technically demanding stage in the first kilometres. I had to be safe. Once again I hit a branch which broke my front window. I didn’t take too many risks since I really want bto be in Dakar. What’s more, in the last 50 kilometres, we were about to tun out of water. I am very happy about this result since I left Lisbonne with one main goal: winning a stage. And I won four stages. Now, I will protect my place even if I will try and gain a few minutes on Kabirov."
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Firdaus Kabirov (RUS - Kamaz - 2nd)
"Today we stared behind Stacey and he seized this opportunity to attack and gain time on me. I had rather avoid to take too many risks since the stage was not easy. But, tomorrow, I will attack as much as possible on a stage which should not be as difficult as today’s. Anyway, the race for tye second place will be tight until the end between Stacey and me. The last stage will be very interesting."
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Vladimir Chagin (RUS – Kamaz – 3rd)
"The arrival to Labé was fantastique, with this incredible crowd which came to welcome us. It hope it will help me keep a good memory about this stage, because so far my last memory is the loss of the rally here in 1996. But it won’t happen this year. I will control the end of the race to make sure I will win in Dakar. Actually I can afford losing 18’ today on Stacey. On the other hand, thye fight between Stacey and Kabirov will be inbteresting untill the end. So tomorrow, I will content myself with following my team mate to assist him in case of trouble."