After yesterday’s leg where the Repsol riders lost the lead in the race, the strategy to follow today was very clear: all out attack from the first kilometre. That is precisely what they did and at the second control point Marc Coma was leading almost six minutes ahead of the provisionally second-classified Ullevalseter and over six and a half up on race leader Cyril Despres. However, 30 kilometres from the line the Repsol rider’s rear tyre disintegrated and by the end of the day he had lost another six minutes.
Today the longest special in the race awaited – 218 kilometres along fast mountain tracks that had been broken up a lot by the rain and were, as usual, chock-a-block with potholes and stones. After a more technical and winding first part, with sharp bends followed by powerful accelerations, the landscape opened up, which meant the speed picked up considerably. In these circumstances the mousse housed inside the tyre of Coma’s rear wheel, which is a kind of foam that makes it possible to avoid punctures from using air chambers, broke up completely. This was some 30 kilometres from the finish and, although he continued more slowly over another 10 kilometres, he wasn’t able to go on in the end and when his team-mate Jordi Viladoms caught him up they swapped their tyres over.
After two-thirds of the special Coma was in first place with 6 minutes 35 seconds over Despres, the race leader, 5 minutes and 17 seconds from the Repsol rider. In the end he made the line in fifth place, 6 minutes and 37 seconds behind today’s winner, Pal Anders Ullevalseter, and 6 minutes and 26 seconds from Despres, who remains the race leader. In the general scratch Coma is now 11 minutes 43 seconds behind.
Jordi Viladoms, who was second in the Rally yesterday evening, reached the finish in thirteenth place, riding the last 20 kilometres with no tyre and directly on the rim itself. He did this in 23 minutes after Ullevalseter and now lies fifth in the general scratch.
The fifth leg will once again see the sand as the big protagonist and Erg Chegagga as the setting. There will be a 99 kilometre liaison up to a 155 kilometre special, where navigation and technique over the dunes will be at the forefront.
Marc Coma
“Today’s leg was very mixed. I knew that it would be a key day on which I was going to try and attack to get back what we lost out on yesterday. The strategy was working out well because I got off strongly and at the second CP I had a lead of over six minutes. We also knew it would be a complicated day though, where there was a chance the mousse would melt because it was a fast leg on ground that really gives the tyres a bashing. I went all-out and by 30 kilometres out from the finish the back tyre had been completely destroyed. I went on slowly for another ten kilometres and I’ve got to thank Jordi Viladoms for stopping and giving me his wheel. The positives from this leg are that we were working well and riding fast and the team-work really gelled. The race isn’t over yet, so we’ll carry on going for it.”
Jordi Viladoms
“When they gave us the roadbook for today yesterday we saw that there would be a part that could be really fast and risky for the tyres, so we chatted about our tactic being a team one. On the quick stretch I took it more easily and rode carefully so that if it came to it and Marc [Coma] needed my wheel, it would still be in a good condition. Unfortunately that’s what happened and 30 kilometres from the finish his was in ruins. 20 from the line he stopped, we swapped quickly and I came in riding directly on the rim.”
