This year’ s event started out the way it is going to be all race long- HARD. The KTM mounted duo of Edgar Canet and Daniel Sanders were quickest in the prologue and carried that form into the maiden stage. The stage was 524km long, with 305km of that against the clock. In all fairness, it looked like Ross Branch( Hero) was going to take the stage honours and the lead, being quickest, but a speeding infringement on the transit section saw him have to accept a six-minute penalty. A harsh lesson after a great ride but the rules are the rules and Dakar takes no prisoners. So, Canet leads Sanders by just over a minute as the riders and teams settle into the harshest test of the year- of any year. Sanders was quietly pleased with the start to his defence of the Dakar title, not taking risks and getting his speed up to where he wants it