Tal Mureeb: BMW X-raid's Guerlain Chicherit and fellow Frenchman Cyril Despres emerged the overall leaders of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2009, after the 340-kilometre third Nissan-backed loop stage through the emirate's Empty Quarter on Wednesday.
Chicherit and Swedish co-driver, Tina Thorner, extended their advantage over the UAE's Yayha Al Helai and Khalid Al Kindi to one hour 57 minutes 51 seconds in the car category.
This was helped when Al Helai suffered transmission problems in the latter stages of the day's punishing selective section. Chicherit admitted to suffering from 'dune sickness' for much of this difficult stage and said that he was 'physically shattered' at the finish.
"It was a really tough job to reach the end," said Chicherit. "I was driving well and was pushing hard until the assistance point. Then, I started to feel a bit sick and I had to struggle to keep it going. I think it is a combination of the heat and the motion of being, in the dunes - like being in a boat.
"The car was perfect, the mechanics did a great job and Tina [Thorner] was superb today. I was not in a good shape and she encouraged me to the finish."
Meanwhile, four-time bike category winner, Despres managed to edge ahead of Spain's overnight leader, Marc Coma, to regain the lead he had held in the opening leg.
"I thought that Coma might have taken a little more time out of me than he did today," admitted Despres. "From the first 25km, I really tried to gain some time and gave a hard ride.
I have to open the road tomorrow and he will catch me. But, then I have the chance to catch him again on the final day. This is typical for the Desert Challenge. It is never easy!"
Ahmad Hussain, Deputy Director General Tourism Operations Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), joined the spectators.
