Sébastien Loeb: “It was exciting but it was a really tough fast rhythm”

Dakar 2022 | Stage 2 | AL HENAKIYAH > AL DUWADIMI
January 3 ^rd 2022 - 15:00 [GMT + 3]

To pick up the 15th stage win of his career on the Dakar, Loeb had to battle over 338 km with Nasser Al-Attiyah.

“It was a real match, Nasser was pushing very hard. He was opening the road for the cars but still he was really fast. We had to push like in WRC for almost 340 km. It was exciting but it was a really tough fast rhythm. At the end I caught him, so I was able to follow him through the dunes. It’s a bit easier when you are just behind a car and right at the end of the stage there were a lot of stones. I tried to overtake him to avoid having a puncture – yesterday I had two, so it was important to finish the stage well. It wasn’t a question of navigation today. The tracks of the bikes were very visible. It has been wet so we saw them easily. It’s easier when you are behind, so if I follow him, then I can follow easily; if he follows me if I overtake, he can follow easily. So, I prefer for him to take the risks rather than me”.