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 | SA-Dakar: An animated first special stage for the French David Casteu.
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This first stage of the Dakar 2011 was shaken for David, who was victim of the popularity of the race in Argentine. "It was a shaken stage" tells David at the finish line in Cordoba.
"At km 53, I knock someone on the crowd with the handlebars while he wasn´t looking. It was crazy, there were too much people. I wasn´t going fast, and I was focused on the road-book. After that I fell. It´s not bad, but the person was very shocked. I call the emergency and the police took care of it."
Sad because of the accident, David asked to have news about the Argentinean man when he arrived to Cordoba. "I heard he was ok, there was just a rib that was hurt, and I felt better."
Taking back his moral, David achieved the 14th position of the stage, 02:04:46 from the leader of the day, Ruben Faria. "I lost time. The special was exactly the same I win last year. I feel somehow frustrated; I was riding in a good rhythm. I woke up at 3am, and then 566 km of road connection before the 192 of special section. I was stressed at the start. After riding now, I feel a lot better."
To conclude his journey, David had a thought for Cyril Esquirol. The rider had to withdraw after a fall during the special stage. He was taken to the hospital in Cordoba by the helicopter, but his life is not in risk.
Meanwhile, his water carrier Laurent Lazard keeps rolling smoothly after his fall during the first road connection on Saturday afternoon. "I had a slip while riding at 100km/h and I my bottom and my arm. Nothing broke, but my skin is gone," tells the French-Uruguayan rider. That is why today, he took the special section at a calmed pace. "I didn´t take the any risks, but I really enjoyed riding in my Sherco, it was very nice."
The motivation of Laurent Lazard wasn´t hurt by the small accident. "These are things that happen. Now I feel better and I´m a little bit disappointed for the bike and for the great team we have. I hope my injuries will dry in two or three days!"
2011/01/02 | 23:01 CET | ARTICLE: MR/URTUBIA
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