- Helder Rodrigues
Stage 13 saw Cyril Despres capitalize on a Marc Coma navigation error and gearbox problem. With one stage to go (and thanks in large part to the gift of time back that Despres spent stuck in the mud) he appears to be poised to win another title. Helder Rodrigues (pictured left) was the stage winner and is in 3rd place overall. Robbie Gordon crashed and suffered a puncture on this the penultimate stage putting Stephane Peterhansel in position to claim his 1oth Dakar title.