Another day in the Argentinian wilderness as the rally is speeding up and it´s hot, hot, hot! Temperatures close to 50C and nowhere to escape. A major battle in the top between Marc Coma and Cyril Despres as the rally is moving closer to the Andes and thin air.
Penalization seems to be the word of the day. Three out of the four Scandinavians received a fourty minutes penalty and set back, all but Ronnie Bodinger. And to Norwegian Pål Anders Ullevålseter a cruel reality as he moves away from the top positions. 29th overall.
Swedish Captain Berglund had some major problems yesterday due to that heat which caused the fuelsystem to cave in. Stefan Holm, his mechanic, worked the nightshift to sort it out and just when things started going well it turns out Thomas missed a check point and got his 40 minute penalty, and the 47th position on the stage meant little, instead his 76th overall turned into a 93rd. His performance on the track today, overtaking all the slower riders, was just a rehearsal for the fourth stage of tomorrow.
Danish Jes Munk must have run in to some difficulties as he also was penalized with 40 minutes, by the end of the day 101st, and 67th overall.
Mr Bodinger who also had mechanical problems with his clutch yesterday was doing well today and climbed the ladder, finishing 88th overall.
Perhaps the Scandinavians aren´t in the best shape as of now, but I say - all in the race, keep going!
Provisional standings stage 3: San Rafael-San Juan
Special Stage 291km
Connection: 270km
Total: 561km
OVERALL
1 (2) Cyril Despres (FRA) 07.31.42
29 (6) Pål Anders Ullevålseter (NOR) +01.06.18
48 (86) Jes Munk (DEN) +02.34.43
93 (29) Thomas Berglund +03.25.49
98 (107) Ronnie Bodinger +03.45.08
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