This is Rio de Janeiro, the world’s carnival and party capital, the most fitting venue to relax and unwind after a two-week trade mission in South America that spanned three countries, nine airplane rides, two foreign languages,and millions of dollars worth of future business partnerships for Cebu and the Philippines in general.

A first in the history of any province in the Philippines, Cebu embarked on an ambitious, two-week business and trade mission to Brazil, Argentina– and Chile – the major economies of South America – with the hope of establishing ties with businessmen of the said countries and further promoting Cebu as a perfect destination for business and leisure.

The 26-member Cebu delegation, headed by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and composed mostly of officers and members of the dynamic Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), started its journey towards the other half of the globe through a nine-hour flight from Cebu to Doha, Qatar. A sleep-over in the Arabian country immediately recharged everyone’s energy in preparation for the 15-hour flight to the city of Sao Paulo in Brazil.

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Sao Paulo, the largest city in Brazil and the 10th richest city in the world, provided a perfect headstart for members of the Cebu delegation who were all eager to meet their business counterparts and talk about nothing less than business and investments.

It was all business for the Cebu delegation in the morning of the second day in Sao Paulo as Cebu businessmen met officials of the Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paulo (FIESP) and the National Confederation of Industries (CNI). Governor Garcia also did the brief introduction of the trade mission as well as the presentation of the Province of Cebu that immediately stirred the interest of the Brazilian businessmen.

“We do hope that with our business matching and with our smiles and warmth and graciousness, we will be able to conquer your hearts and minds. We look forward to a mutually beneficial long-lasting relationship between businesses in Cebu and Sao Paulo,” Garcia told the Brazilian traders.

Thomaz Zanotto, director of FIESP, the largest professional body in Brazil comprising 132 business associations, said the trade mission was very timely considering that Brazil’s trade with developing countries is growing in big numbers.

The half-day business meeting was capped with a roundtable discussion where Cebu’s businessmen exchanged views and discussed partnership possibilities with their Brazilian counterparts. The other half of the day was spent in a city tour of the the wonderful city of Sao Paulo – where buildings compete with each other through elegant and unique architecture, where almost everyone is wearing a coat and tie while rushing towards their workplaces, where the atmosphere exudes nothing but business and commerce.

The following day, the entire delegation was brought to the world famous Iguazu Falls, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and one of the top tourist attractions of South America. Iguazu Falls is a spectacular grouping of 275 magnificent and thundering waterfalls that provide an out-of-this-world feeling for the Cebu delegation, mostly first-timers in this wonderful work of nature. A long and winding ramp, which offers a panoramic view of the Iguazu, led us closer to one of the falls, so close that we had to wear raincoats to avoid getting wet.

Everyone wanted to stay a little longer and enjoy the majestic grandeur of the Iguazu but we had to prepare for our next destination – Buenos Aires, the capital and largest city of Argentina and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America. The delegation arrived in Argentina on a weekend, which means there was plenty of time to tour the city and recharge our spirits for the series of business meetings ahead.

Buneos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires is a neat, progressive and fast-paced city where historical landmarks blend with commercial establishments and where history is preserved through hundreds of monuments scattered all over this park-rich Argentinian capital. I believe it is only in Buenos Aires that a cemetery forms part of a city tour. But La Recoleta is not just an ordinary cemetery. Located right at the heart of the city, it is home to the graves of notable people, including the world-famous Evita Perón, and several presidents and wealthy people of Argentina.

Among the places that the Cebu delegation visited were the Casa Rosada which is Argentina’s government house and whose balcony was made famous by the speeches of Evita Peron during the presidency of her husband; the Plaza de Mayo, which has become a freedom park for the Argentinians; the Obelisk which has become a symbol of the city; and the various statues and parks that form part of this progressive metropolis.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

A unique tourist drawer in Buenos Aires is the Tigre Delta Cruise that brings first-timers to a labyrinth of rivers and channels of the Tigre River, 30 kilometers away from the city. Here, hundreds of green islands dot the landscape that spans 220 square kilometers and which has become a favorite weekend getaway for the lovers of the river.

The Cebu delegation boarded a riverboat to explore the maze of channels and streams, islands, riverside villas, Victorian docks, English gardens and traditional rowing clubs. The boat ride also features magnificent view of weekend houses with their own mini docks. And because it was a weekend, Argentinian families and friends were seen enjoying the brownish-red colored water of the river and happily waving their hands to welcome the cruising tourists.

Dinner was served at the best tango venues of Buenos Aires, fittingly, because the city is famous for its tango, with origins dating back to the 1880s in the slums of the La Boca neighborhood. The tiring, albeit memorable, day tour was immediately washed away as the amazing tango dancers performed the traditional dance at its best.

The following two days in Argentina were spent mostly with business meetings and business matching sessions organized by the Argentine Chamber of Commerce for Southeast Asia, represented by its executive director Martin Lo Coco. After the business matching, Governor Garcia and the trade mission delegation called on Philippine Ambassador Rey Carandang.

Gov. Garcia, accompanied by Cebu Board Members Wilfredo Caminero and Peter John Calderon, also met with officials of Centro Metroplitano de Diseño (CMD), a state institution created to assist companies, designers and entrepreneurs in the city of Buenos Aires in order to improve their current competitiveness based on design and innovation. CMD Operations Director Gaston Marando has expressed interest in visiting Cebu next year to bring the designs of their country during the design summit that the province will be hosting.

And while everyone was starting to fall in love with Buenos Aires, we had to pack our bags for our next destination – Santiago City in Chile – but not without some quick shopping at the famous Florida Street in Buenos Aires.

Santiago, Chile

The last and, perhaps, the most important leg of the two-week trade mission was Santiago, Chile. Santiago is roughly two-hours away from Buenos Aires by plane. And while the plane ride was a perfect time to take a nap, I was wide awake in anticipation of finally seeing the mighty Andes mountain range from the plane. And I was not disappointed. After an hour of waiting, the snowcapped Andes mountains slowly emerged from my window seat, exposing their grandeur and might before my very eyes. Mixed emotions enveloped my entire senses as I came to realize that I was actually above the Andes, the world’s longest continental mountain range, for real and not just in my dreams. The Andes separates Argentina and Chile.

The delegation was met by Philippine Ambassador to Chile Ma. Consuelo Puyat-Reyes, who excitingly told us that the trade mission was a first for a Philippine province and second only to the trade mission launched by then President Joseph Estrada during his administration.

In response, Garcia said the trade mission was a clear embodiment of a working private and public partnership. “It had to take Cebu and it had to take the active and very dynamic cooperation and partnership between the business sector and the provincial government.”

The Chile part of the two-week trade mission was very important for the Province of Cebu because it was here that Cebu signed a sisterhood agreement with Chile’s Valparaiso region. Garcia and Intendant Raul Celis of the Valparaiso region sealed the sisterhood agreement that intends to foster an active partnership, a mechanism of concrete cooperation and exchange in trade and various areas that both Cebu and Valparaiso share in common.

“This is very important not only for Valparaiso but for Chile and the entire South America because Valparaiso region is a gate of entry and exit of South America,” said Intendant Celis, who heads the entire Valparaiso region that is composed of eight provinces.

Garcia, for her part, said the signing of the sisterhood agreement is ground breaking and very historic for the province of Cebu that has so much in common with Valparaiso in terms of tourism, geography and dynamic leaders.

A business matching session between the Cebu traders and members of the Federation of Chilean Industry (SOFOFA), Chile’s largest trade association, and the Camara Nacional de Comercio (CNC), Chile’s National Chamber of Commerce was held on our last day in Chile.

CNC Presidet Carlos Jorquiera vowed to assist businesses from the Philippines, especially from Cebu, in order to increase trade and business value between the two countries.

Rio De Janerio, Brazil

Before heading back home, the Cebu delegation dropped by Rio de Janeiro in Brazil for two nights of rest and recreation. A quick tour around Rio gave everyone a chance to try out bars, lounges and samba houses in the city. And when night took over, the entire Rio was transformed into a carnival city – lively, positively noisy and with plenty of fun and laughter.

And of course, a trip to Rio will not be complete without going to the famous Christ the Redeemer, the world-famous statue of Jesus Christ that is considered the largest Art Deco statue in the world and the fifth largest statue of Jesus in the entire planet. To get to the statue, we had to take a 25-minute train ride through the lush mountain greenery to the station on top of the mountain.

While the statue of Jesus Christ is the main attraction of the place, the breathtaking view of Rio de Janeiro from 710 meters above sea level is just as awesome as the Redeemer. Here, thousands of tourists, regardless of race and religion, climb their way to the top everyday to have their pictures taken with the Redeemer in the background.

Finally, it was time to fly back home – which meant nearly 24 hours of plane ride that crossed the continents of Africa, Middle East and Asia. But our mission was over and it ended with a resounding success.

“I think this has been a very fruitful and most successful trade mission because all of the programs scheduled by the Philippine embassies in Brazil, Argentina and Chile were all carried out,” said Garcia before boarding the plane to Doha. “We traveled halfway across the world just to promote Cebu and I do believe this will really have a positive impact.”
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SOURCE:
“Cebu City’s South American mission”
By MARS W. MOSQUEDA JR.
January 15, 2012
http://www.mb.com.ph
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/348127/cebu-citys-south-american-mission

The Dakar is a race for travellers. This year, it is readying itself to discover a 27th country, at the end of a fourth South American adventure that will take the riders and drivers to Lima, the capital of Peru, after having returned to the Argentinean and Chilean landscapes. The crossing of the continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific appeals massively to rally-raid lovers who come to enjoy the thrills of the competition and wide open spaces. This year, 465 vehicles are expected at Mar del Plata for the start of the race, an increase of almost 15 % in comparison to the 2011 edition.

Sand and dunes will be on the menu in the three host countries of the Dakar 2012. However, between the ones in Fiambala leading up to the crossing of the Andes Mountains, the amazingly large ones of the Atacama Desert, or those in Peru which stretch out in long rows, their variation and the reoccurrence of difficulty they provide along the route means it is a fool’s game to try and predict just how the race will unfold. Furthermore, the numbers in the field have become denser, making predictions more and more random, starting in the two-wheeled category. Whilst Marc Coma and Cyril Despres are neck and neck with three victories each, it is by no means a sure thing that one of them will take a lead this year on the rally’s roll of honour. Among the serious rivals who can already boast podium finishes are Helder Rodrigues and David Casteu riding for Yamaha, as well as Francisco Lopez (Aprilia) or Pal-Anders Ullevalseter (KTM). However, in light of their promising performances, Portugal’s Paulo Gonçalves (Husqvarna) or even American Quinn Cody, best “rookie” in 2011 (9th, Honda) can also be granted the rank of pretender. What’s more, all eyes will probably also be on a handful of first-class newcomers, such as Brazilian Felipe Zanol (2nd behind Despres in the Sertoes International Rally), two times endurance world champion Johnny Aubert, or four times Bol d’Or winner Matt Lagrive.

The reshuffling of cards expected in the car category could also give rise to an intense battle. It will already be raging within the ranks of the X-Raid team, which will be racing five Minis, driven by two former rally winners, Stephane Peterhansel and Nani Roma (who triumphed on a bike), as well as the rising start of the discipline Krzysztof Holowczyc, victorious this summer on the Silk Way Rally. But the new context could also allow Robby Gordon to make a mark again, after a podium finish in 2009 behind the wheel of his Hummer. This is also a goal that Giniel De Villiers can legitimately hold: the winner of the first South American Dakar will be driving a Toyota Pick-up designed by Overdrive that could make a triumphant debut in the event. The state of the competition is also whetting the appetite of outsiders such as Christian Lavieille for Dessoude, Mathias Kahle behind the wheel of an SMG buggy, or the comeback kid Carlos Sousa, enlisted by Chinese constructor Great Wall.

In the quad category, the Patronelli brothers seem obliged to provide an excellent performance. The Argentine spectators, won over by the family saga that has witnessed the victories of Marcos in 2010, then Alejandro in 2011, will only content themselves with the best. However, on the tracks the duo will have to deal with Czech rider Josef Machacek, who picked up the last of his five titles in 2009, as well as a Polish onslaught that has been gathering strength for the last few years in the form of Rafal Sonik and Lukasz Laskawiec.

2012 will unavoidably be a turning point for the Kamaz team, since its star Chagin has left the cab to take on a role in managing the team. An air of youthfulness has been given to the team with Eduard Nikolaev and Ayrat Mardeev, son of Ilgizar, who both have the talent and machines capable of prolonging the Russian domination. That said, their failure at home in July in the SWR, along with the victory of Ales Loprais, allows the Czech driver to nourish hopes of triumph. The De Rooy team also has high hopes, with the return to the tracks of Gerard, but also the presence of Hans Stacey, the last driver to have beaten Kamaz on the Dakar, in 2007. Furthermore, the Veka team does not intend to be a mere spectator of this struggle, with Frantz Echter ready to get stuck in.
____________________________________________
SOURCE: http://www.dakar.com/index_DAKus.html

Enjoy stays at exclusive boutique hotels and opportunities to dine at state-of-the-art wineries as you travel from cosmopolitan Buenos Aires to Mendoza, one of the most famous wine producing regions in South America before flying across the Andes to Santiago to soak up the splendid scenery of the Colchagua Valley, home to some of the best vineyards and boutique wineries in Chile.

The tour comes to an end in Chile’s spectacular Atacama Desert. Daily excursions explore the lunar landscapes, dunes, geysers, salt lakes and villages of the driest desert in the world.

Day 1 Buenos Aires

Upon arrival in Argentina’s capital, transfer to your boutique hotel in Buenos Aires at the lively district of Palermo where you will meet your guide and have time to review your itinerary before heading out into the city to start familiarising yourself with some country’s famous wines – a glass of Malbec or a Torrontes perhaps? The legendary steakhouse La Cabaña in Puerto Madero is our recommendation for dinner tonight.

Day 2 Buenos Aires

A morning tour will take you to some of the city’s most well known neighbourhoods including the arts district of San Telmo and upscale Recoleta with its famous cemetery. The rest of the day is yours to explore at your own pace before enjoying an evening of music and dance at one of Buenos Aires’ most authentic Tango venues (B,D).

Day 3 Mendoza

Fly to Mendoza, the heart of Argentina’s winemaking region. Visit Catena Zapata, a winery recognised for being the pioneer of quality wines in Argentina and for the architectural design of its bodega. Your accommodation for the next few nights will be at the Club Tapiz Lodge, a seven-bedroom lodge surrounded by 22-acres of vineyards (B).

Day 4 Mendoza – Central Valleys

This morning head to Belasco de Baquedano. With it’s unique Hall of Aromas, it is one of the most interesting wineries in the area. Continue to the Bodega Ruca Malen for a superb five-course wine pairing lunch. Evening at leisure. Your guide is on hand to make reservations at 1884, the signature restaurant of one of Argentina’s top chef’s, Francis Mallmann (B,L).

Day 5 Mendoza – Uco Valleys

The Uco Valley in the foothills of the Andes is known for its high altitidue vineyards and fine wineries including Clos de los Siete, Monteviejo and La Azul, a small boutique winery and producer of outstanding Malbecs. A stop will be made for lunch (at own expense) at Posada del Jamon, a family owned restaurant that specialises in all things pork (B).

Day 6 Santiago de Chile

Take a flight over the Andes to Chile’s capital, Santiago. Check-in to the Hotel Le Reve in the elegant Providencia district before embarking on a walking tour of the city’s main sites starting at the bustling Mercardo Central. Evening is at leisure for dinner at one of Santiago’s highly rated restaurants. Mestizo comes highly recommended – advance bookings are advised (B).

Day 7 Colchagua Wine Valley

Head south from Santiago to Santa Cruz at the centre of the Colchagua Valley, one of Chile’s most prominent wine regions. In the afternoon visit the Laura Hartwig, boutique winery. Transfer to your base for the next two nights, the Hotel Viña la Playa (B).

Day 8 Colchagua Wine Valley

This morning relax at the lodge or walk through the vineyards before visiting the elegant Montgras Winery where you will have an opportunity to create your own unique wine. Enjoy a picnic lunch before continuing to the Apalta Valley for tastings of highly rated premium wines at Casa Lapostolle (B,L).

Day 9 San Pedro de Atacama

Start the day at Casa Silva Winery one of the oldest vineyards in the Colchagua Valley. Enjoy tastings of superb Reserves & Whites followed by lunch (not included) and a transfer to the airport at Santiago for your flight north to Calama – gateway to the world’s driest desert. Upon arrival, a car will take you to the superb Tierra Atacama hotel in the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama (B,D).

Day 10-11 San Pedro de Atacama

Daily excursions explore the lunar landscapes, dunes, geysers, salt lakes and villages of the incredible Atacama Desert. All meals and activities are included (B,L,D).

Day 12 Santiago

Transfer back to the airport at Calama for your flight to Santiago

B = Breakfast
L = Lunch
D = Dinner

Prices from

Prices from: £5,265 – £5,795 per person (£4,995 – £5,595 if 4 people are travelling together)

Valid for travel: Until 30 April 2012.

Includes: 11 nights BV (BV = board varies) accommodation in superior – luxury boutique style hotels & meals as detailed in itinerary, expert wine guides during wine tasting activities, private transfers & excursions with English speaking guides, domestic and international flights.

Terms & Conditions: Prices are approximate based on low & high season and two people sharing a twin/double room. All accommodation is subject to availablity. For a tailored up-to-the-minute quotation, call one of our Latin America specialists today.

_____________________________
SOURCE:
“A gourmet’s tour across the Andes”
Wine & adventure in Argentina and Chile
Wexas
August 19, 2011
http://www.wexas.com
http://www.wexas.com/argentina-holidays/offer/wine–adventure-in-argentina-and-chile-102427.html

The result was one of mutual, sincere affection and a “todos somos vecinos” (“we are all neighbors”) attitude.

The first stop was La Paz, Bolivia. At an elevation of nearly 12,000 feet, La Paz is the highest capital city in the world and has a rich indigenous population.

The city also is home to Bolivia’s political scene; the president, Evo Morales, has been one of the United States’ most vocal opponents, but no one would know that by engaging with ordinary citizens, who, incidentally, make the best fresh-squeezed orange juice right on the street and whose charm is contagious.

I continued south to Santiago, Chile. This country was one of the best stops on the trip; the rugged, contrasting landscape, seafood choices, lomito (steak) sandwiches with mayonnaise, pisco sours, the coastal cities of Viña del Mar and Valparaiso, Carmenere wine and the Chilean people made it easy for me to want to visit again soon.

The hourlong flight east to Mendoza, Argentina, directly on the other side of the Andes range, is breathtaking. The heart of Malbec wine country is dusty, quiet and quaint, with many tree-lined streets and empanada stands. It’s quite the opposite of the cosmopolitan, bustlingly hectic Buenos Aires, where tango music flows like wine and nobody seems to sleep.

On the other side of the Rio de la Plata lies Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. It’s by far the most charming nation, where endless parillas (grills) contain many kinds of meats and where locals are eager to share a bottle of the local Tannat wine. Farther east, the coastal towns of Piriapolis and Punta del Este offer stunning sunset views that rival our best here.

Lastly, the exotic city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, offers perhaps two of the most memorable views on Earth: from atop Sugar Loaf Mountain looking over Rio and in the shadow of the famous Christ the Redeemer stature. Lying on Copacabana Beach with a good book and a caipirinha, Brazil’s national drink, you can’t help but think that life can’t get any better.

Two of the joys of traveling are the people you meet and the friendships you make. My decision to visit South America last December could not have come at a better time, nor could I imagine just how much I would experience in just three too-short weeks.
_______________________________________
SOURCE:
“South American tour: Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil”
by Conner Lee
Apr. 27, 2011
Special for The Republic
http://www.azcentral.com
http://www.azcentral.com/travel/features/articles/2011/04/27/20110427south-america-tour-bolivia-chile-argentina.html

The world famous race, moved from west Africa to South America over security concerns, was won by Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah on Saturday. The race ended officially in Buenos Aires on Sunday.

French race director Etienne Lavigne hinted the race could be opened to more countries in South America.

“Every year we try to build on a new idea. We’re thinking it could be good to open the race to other countries while including Chile and Argentina,” Lavigne said after being asked if next year’s race might end in Lima instead of Buenos Aires.

But the Frenchman said decisions would be taken from March and “everything depends on the authorities in those countries.”

The prize giving at the Obelisk in central Buenos Aires was brought forward over warnings of an impending storm in the Argentine capital on Sunday afternoon and relatively few spectators showed up.

The other winners at the end of the gruelling 16-day race were Marc Coma on motorbikes, Argentine Alejandro Patronelli on quads and Russian Vladimir Chagin in trucks.

“Now the world will know where Qatar is,” said Al-Attiyah, draped in Qatari and Argentine flags, possibly forgetting his country only last month won the right to stage football’s World Cup in 2022.

“I’m happy with Argentines’ support and I thank them,” he said while his Volkswagen team mate, Spanish former world rally champion Carlos Sainz, had to settle for third place having won the race last year and despite winning seven stages this year.

Fellow Spaniard Coma, winning his third Dakar motorbike title, said: “I was never able to relax because one stage finished and another harder one followed. The Dakar is very tough but this victory is the prize for all our work.”

The best sceneries of the 2011 Dakar Rally Argentina-Chile:

_______________________________________
SOURCE:
“Dakar – Dakar could expand horizons”
Mon, 17 Jan
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/17012011/58/dakar-dakar-expand-horizons.html

The stage crossed a 13,000-foot pass in the Andes, with Coma winning the bikes category in 3 hours, 6 minutes, 35 seconds.

The Spaniard won in 2009 and leads Cyril Despres of France in the overall standings by 18:10.

Al-Attiyah finished fourth Wednesday, 8:54 behind winner Giniel de Villiers of South Africa. The driver from Qatar has an overall lead of 18:13 on defending champion Carlos Sainz of Spain.
______________________________
SOURCE:
“Coma, Al-Attiyah build hefty leads in Dakar Rally”
The Associated Press
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/12/AR2011011203774.html

In quads, the Argentine Alejandro Patronelli arrived first, winning only by 5 minutes 21 seconds against the second, the Czech Machacek. The Polish Laskawiec is at 10 minutes 15 seconds below the Argentine.

Sebastian Halpern and Jorge Santamarina, also Argentine, ended fourth and fifth respectively.

In the overall, Patronelli continues as the leader with 1 hour 16 minutes 23 seconds over Halpern and 2 hours 47 minutes 9 seconds ahead of Machacek.

In cars, the Spanish driver Carlos Sainz won. He imposed on Tuesday and the Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah ended second, but held the lead in the overall despite the result.

Sainz did a time of 2 hours 14 minutes and 39 seconds, beating Al-Attiyah by 1 minute 56 seconds.

Third was the South African Giniel de Villiers, at 9 minutes 2 seconds behind the stage leader.

After nine stages Al-Attiyah is at the top, followed by Sainz, who is below only by 3 minutes 18 seconds.

The surprise came on motorcycles, in which neither Despres and Coma or Lopez arrived at the front. The American Jonah Street won with a time of 3 hours 6 minutes and 56 seconds, beating by 3 minutes 38 seconds to Belgian Verhoeven and the French Casteau for 3 minutes 40 seconds.

Despres, defending champion finished seventh in at 6 minutes 3 seconds behind the winner, while Coma finished ninth at 7 minutes 8 seconds.

Lopez arrived 7 minutes 53 seconds behind the winner of the day.

After the stage, Coma still leads the overall standings, while Despres is still second. Lopez also remains in third place.
___________________________
SOURCE:
“Results of the ninth stage of the Rally Dakar Argentina-Chile 2011″
Chile, January 11, 2011
http://momento24.com
http://momento24.com/en/2011/01/11/results-of-the-ninth-stage-of-the-rally-dakar-argentina-chile-2011/

In a three-way battle of the Dakar masters, Marc Coma triumphed in Copiapo to pick up his third special stage this year and further consolidate his position as race leader. Meanwhile Despres and Lopez, fight on for second and third, and Jonah Street fights further mechanical issues.

Unless there is an epidemic of insurmountable mechanical problems, the battle for Dakar victory will be between Marc Coma, Cyril Despres and Francisco Lopez. Coma’s first order of business is to protect his lead over Despres in the overall standings. As third rider to start in the early morning, the Coma soon overtook Despres. It wasn’t a lonely ride for the two though, as they were joined by Lopez “Chaleco” Francisco, the winner of yesterday’s stage.

Depending on which quotes you follow, riding with the Coma and Despres represents a trap for Cyril Despres, which forces him to assume navigational duties for the group.

Cyril Despres, “There are back wheel like leeches in rally raids too”

“It wasn’t too bad at all today. We’ve been on the go for a while: 505 kilometres. And it wasn’t easy to open the way, so obviously the others catch up with you. Chaleco and me opened up the way and we had a great time. Today, the game was to stay right behind following in my tracks. He didn’t take too many risks, but, you know, that happens. You can’t do much about it, but we still distanced the rest of them by miles. Chaleco led the way on all the quick parts and I did the dunes. In the end, the satisfaction came from overtaking them and crossing the finishing line first. It’s not much, but for a day like today it’s a source of satisfaction. The problem with navigation is like in cycling some riders stick to your back wheel like leeches; well, there’s the same thing in rally raids too. But that’s just part of the game”.

With Coma’s time lead of 1’55” over Despres, all he needs to do to win is ride with the second place holder to win. There are varying reports of all three leaders sharing navigational duties for the stage.

According to Coma, “It was a hard stage and very long with plenty of mileage and dunes. With Cyril and Chaleco we all rode together. We took turns to open the way, at a very fast pace too. I was happy about the pace today. It was a good stage after a complicated one yesterday. But in the end, everything turned out fine. I’m glad, because it was a 500-km special. That’s a hell of a lot”.

If Coma was playing a “safe game” and Despres was biding his time to try and shake him, then today’s third place finisher Lopez was pushing hard to avoid his “riding companions” leaving him in the dust.

The day’s fourth-placed rider, Helder Rodrigues, occupies the same rank in the general standings, but trails the Chilean rider by almost 20 minutes. The Portuguese rider is still a potential candidate for a place on the podium, unlike his countryman who won the stage at Iquique, Paolo Gonçalves, and who exited the rally after crashing and breaking his collar bone. Frans Verhoeven saw a distance open up between himself and the Top 5, after having spent several hours making running repairs on his BMW at the start of the stage. Jonah Street and Jordi Viladoms also saw their hopes dashed further on the day’s special.

However, these mishaps were good news for Pal-Anders Ullevalseter. The runner-up to Despres in 2010 is starting to get used to his 450cc and finally put in a time worthy of his status, finishing in 5th place in Copiapo. The disasters which befell those in front of him yesterday should enable him to climb up to 7th position, after having started the rally in 29th place!

Another hard day for Jonah Street today. Per Team Rally PanAm mechanic Niles Follin, Jonah took a rock into his front wheel, broke the brake line, mashed up his caliper, ripped out the pickup for his ICOs (odometer). That means that Street completed the last 2/3 or more of the stage with no ICOs to provide mileage, essential for navigation, and no front brakes.

That’s the second day in a row that Street has ridden with limited to no navigational functionality. Yesterday’s issue is now confirmed as electrical issue, not a solenoid short as originally reported.

Per the blog.cycleworld.com Street said, “A portion of the wiring harness wasn’t put back in place correctly after our rest-day motor swap. It was sitting on the hot exhaust pipe, and a relay got cooked. That killed electrical power, and the bike stopped.

“I was somewhere around the 120-140 kilometer mark when the engine stopped. I don’t remember exactly because I was frantically trying to find the issue and fix it. I lost a little more than an hour and dropped to around 14th place overall.”

The two hard even for Dakar days in a row have Street sitting provisionally at 34th in the stage and 15th overall. Meanwhile fellow American Quinn Cody is 15th overall with today’s 10th place finish some 43m27s off the lead rider.

Simon Pavey is continuing to inspire as he fights onwards to place 59th in the stage and 55th overall. Pavey’s BMW is one of the few that hasn’t littered the withdrawal list (four other BMW riders have withdrawn), and that gives him a dubious honor of being the lead Beemer. Or is that only?

Paulo Goncalves and Frans Verhoeven of the BMW Speedbrain Team are facing big trouble. Goncalves crashed before CP1, and the Portuguese rider complained of shoulder pain at the checkpoint where he was diagnosed with a broken collarbone. It’s rumoured that around the same position Frans Verhoeven’s 450 BMW engine grenaded. Apparently Verhoeven field swapped engines with Goncalves’ bike and the Belgian continued after losing 4h18’10?.

The BMW G450X is a matter of contention for Pavey, as yesterday the ASO bumped the Brit from the Marathon Class, which disallows engine changes, into the Semi-Marathon class. Pavey was informed that BMW had never ‘homologated’ the standard G450X with the F.I.M, so the bike was not ‘standard’, and that he’d been re-classified. That’s a blow as Simon sat in third position in the Marathon class and had a good chance at the lead before being ousted.

Tonight the riders prepare for Stage 9, the 235km special of the Copiapo-Copiapo Loop. The stage is dominated by majestic dunes and difficult navigation thanks to the depth of the valley’s formed by these sand mountains. Rider’s who stray from the course could be condemned to an endless series of maneuvers and challenging navigation with limited landmarks. It’s a day full of traps, that offers opportunity to expert desert riders and navigators. Adding to the excitement of the stage, the bikers will set off in a grouped start, in rows of ten for the leading riders then in rows of 20 for the dwindling list of Dakar survivors.
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SOURCE:
“Dakar 2011 Stage 8 Summary: Antofagasta > Copiapo”
Monday, 10 January 2011
http://www.onewheeldrive.net
http://www.onewheeldrive.net/2011/01/10/dakar-2011-stage-8-summary-antofagasta-copiapo/

Titleholder Sainz of Spain saw his overall lead whittled down to 1 minute 22 seconds over the Qatari driver after the stretch of more than 600 kilometres from Arica to Antofagasta.

Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel in a BMW lost further ground after finishing fourth place behind VW driver Giniel de Villiers, and is now 21:11 behind Sainz in third place.

Francisco Lopez Contardo of Chile won the bike category stage, 2:21 ahead of defending champion Cyril Despres of France and 3:45 up on overall leader Marc Coma of Spain.

Coma’s overall lead was 7:24 over Despres and 18:27 on Lopez Contardo.

The eighth stage Monday is from Antofagasta to Copiapo. The Dakar Rally is scheduled to end January 15 in Buenos Aires, where winners are to be celebrated a day later.
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SOURCE:
“Al-Attiyah edges nearer to Sainz after Dakar rally stage seven win”
10-01-2011
digibet.info
http://www.digibet.info
http://www.digibet.info/topnewsgbtease/00_20110109175157_Al_Attiyah_edges_nearer_to_Sainz_after_Dakar_r.php

Titleholder Sainz managed to gain a few seconds against Volkswagen team-mate Nasser al-Attiyah and now holds a 2:42-minute lead over the Qatari driver in the overall standings.

Al-Attiyah made the most of a bad day for BMW’s Stephane Peterhansel – a Dakar Rally legend with six titles on a motorcycle and three in a car – to get back into second place.

In the motorcycle section, Coma only managed to be fourth in the stage, which was won by Portugal’s Ruben Faria. Coma lost more than 1 minute to his closest rival for the offroad race title, Frenchman Cyril Despres.

However, Coma, who won the Dakar Rally in 2006 and 2009, remains atop the overall table, with a lead of 8:48 minutes over second-place Despres, who won the race in 2005, 2007 and 2010.

‘It was a very hard stage, at the start with the dunes, then with all the navigation,’ Coma said, in comments posted on the race website.

The sixth stage of the rally, 721 km in the Atacama Desert between Iquique and Arica in northern Chile, featured a 456-km timed special. Sand dunes, dry grass and a lot of dust accompanied participants ahead of Saturday’s rest day in the race.

The rally began Jan 1 with a so-called liaison stage starting in Buenos Aires. The race is being staged in Argentina and Chile for the third consecutive year, after security problems drove the event out of its original location in Africa.

Traversing more than 9,500 km including 5,000 km of timed specials, the Dakar Rally is scheduled to end Jan 15 in the Argentine capital, where winners are to be celebrated a day later.
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SOURCE:
“Sainz wins stage, Coma struggles in Dakar Rally”
2011-01-08
http://www.sify.com
http://www.sify.com/news/sainz-wins-stage-coma-struggles-in-dakar-rally-news-international-lbid4chcehf.html