“This was a very complete stage, with a lot of navigation. We encountered a mix of terrain — sand, dunes, camel grass, dry riverbeds, sandy tracks, and rocky trails. It was a tough day for navigation, and many riders got lost. I started well and managed to catch some competitors. Around the middle of the stage, I reached a large group of five or six riders who were lost; I managed to navigate correctly and got ahead. But everyone wants to stay in front to escape the dust from those ahead. I tried to navigate carefully to avoid mistakes, but I caught these groups several times as they pushed forward again, raising a lot of dust and then losing their way once more. When many riders bunch up in the dust, confusion is inevitable. In a fesh-fesh section, with a wall of dust already formed, I had to turn back to reach a waypoint and return to the track. That’s the disadvantage of starting further back — I ended up suffering a bit with the dust — but another stage is done. It was a positive day; I reached the finish in good shape, with a consistent pace, no problems, and good navigation. I’m satisfied,” said the rider from Torres Vedras upon arrival at the bivouac in Erfoud.
Tomorrow, the rally caravan will face the fourth and penultimate stage, covering a total of 378 km, again starting and finishing in Erfoud. The route includes a 283 km timed special and a 95 km liaison.
Source: Bruno Santos oficial press release
Translation and adaptation Rally-Raid Network
