Team Honda Europe left at 6:15h for the start of the special. The connection of 112 km was rather chilly on the bikes. It was the last stage in Chili, and as we leave early tomorrow morning not too difficult. Most of the riders returned early and could catch some sleep for a very short night. We leave the bivouac at 4:40h. The special was troublefree for the riders of Team Honda Europe, except for Patrick Trahan who crashed and had to regain his confidence on the bike afterwards. The special was won by Coma. Cyril Despres stays overall leader of the race, ahead of Pal Anders Ullevalseter with 1:22h.

Patrick Trahan (74 in the stage, 60 overall): "I crashed hard, riding like a beginner. In a corner two bikes and a quad went straight on and I followed them. I fell off the bike, but it had no damage. I lost my rythm, and started doing things wrong. I tried to get the bike out of the rocks by hand, and fell. The bike landed on a rock which caused the tank to leak. It was at km 150. I am unhappy with today, and I hope it will get better tomorrow.

Christopher Jarmuz (50 in the stage, 32 overall) tries to climb in the ranking each day. He tries to attack during the race, to overtake others. He takes more risks. "I crashed twice todag, in a corner and off-piste with the rocks. The bike is perfect, but I crash at least once each day. It is not a good Dakar for me, I push too hard. These last day I will ride my own speed and see what happens. I hope to have better results from this strategy."

Gerben Vruggink (49 in the stage, 48 overall): "We had to make a thousand turns today! A perfect stage for quads who could go sideways all the time. The last 60 to 70 kilometers were dangerous. Fast, small, you had to be on gaurd all the time.

Tonny Krabbenborg (73 in the stage, 83 overall) rode safely today. "Turn, turn, turn, all day long! You had to watch out all the time with the canyons. If you missed a meter you could go right in, I really had to look through the turns. Luckily the dust was ok, which meant I could me some speed. The first 100 km on the connection was cold and wet. In the special Gerben could overtake me, he had some speed today. And such a big crowd at a trailsection through a riverbed, the reception of Dakar here is so much fun. And another day at the finishline, perfect.

Aloys Ressing (75 in the stage, 81 overall) did not like it today. "It was like asphalt today, not good for me! Dangerous riding, but it is part of the game. I went for the safe side of the tracks, away from the canyon. But I finished, and that is good news.

Mirjam Pol is still with the team in the Landcruiser with Henk Hellegers and Marcel Bulten. She did some serious sleeping during the assistance routes. And she needed it, as the last days in the race had exhausted her. "Yesterday I could see the start in groups, and today I could take the coats from the riders with me. On a bridge we could see the top ten pass by. Driving the assistance route in the car is fine, just as long as Henk doesn't miss any speedbumps.

The eleventh stage goes from Chili to Argentine. ASO has warned the riders to be carefull, as they expect a huge crowd. The rally passes the border at 3500m, and the first 50 km of the special starts at this height. The competitors have to find their way to San Juan through the many Rio's, the dry riverbeds going down from the hills.

Stage 11: Santiago – San Juan   connection 211 km    I    Special 220 km    I    connection 3 km