Adrien van Beveren: "I'd never seen sand so loose before"

Dakar 2018 | Stage 5 | San Juan de Marcona > Arequipa
January 10 ^th 2018 - 11:42 [GMT -5]

Van Beveren conceded time to his rivals after spending the entire stage near the front of the race, but the Yamaha rider remains in the overall lead after today's key stage.

"I'm happy to be done for today because it was tough... and I'm delighted with having left the other guys behind. I attacked towards the end of the first special because I knew I could press the advantage in the second one, especially with the tracks left by the cars. My little Yamaha carried me through to the end although it was tough... I'd never seen sand so loose before. There was a moment when I had to pedal with my legs to get over a dune. It was an amazing special. Getting here first after spending the entire stage up front is an awesome performance in my book, even if the guys behind probably gained some time on me."