Dakar: First Special Stage begins

After a first link stage of 400 km, which was 52km longer than initially planned, the title holder in the bike category, Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM) kicked off proceedings by starting the first special stage, now reduced to 168 km, at 9.30 as scheduled. Two minutes later, he was followed by the winner of the Dakar in 2007, Frenchman Cyril Despres…