Todays stage was a whopping 433Km with the competitors first taste of sand dunes in the 2014 Dakar. The earth and stones on the way were a fast paced entree to the sand that will characterise much of the next two weeks. With bikes and cars taking split routes which crossed and recrossed each others tracks, there was no clear path to follow by the time the Team Toyo Tires cars were coming though.

Chicherit, riding with Alex Winocq, regular co-driver for Eric Vogouroux and himself a Dakar veteran, came home 1 hour 3 mnutes behind stage winner Peterhansel’s Mini having spent just under five hours completing the mammoth stage. Gordon arrived at the finish 1 hour and 13 minutes adrift having spent 5 hours and 5 minutes working his way through the 433Km stage with co-driver Kellon Walch navigating.

Since BJ Baldwin is still out there, so is our photographer. Images will follow shortly when both arrive at the bivouac.