Stage 10 of the Africa Eco Race was the second loop special of the rally, which started and finished at the bivouac in Ouad Naga, where 90% of the 456km special consisted of soft sand, and the rest was made up of the notoriously tricky Mauritanian dunes. The heat became a significant factor, too, as temperatures reached close to 50 degrees Celsius in the searing desert sun.
Pol Tarrés continued the incredible run that has not seen him finish outside the top seven since the second stage. After his maiden rally podium in Thursday's special, the Spaniard set off from third and was preserving energy in the early part of the stage before he caught another rider and, feeling physically good, decided to step it up a gear. Powering through to the end, the 29-year-old finished the special riding alongside his 450cc rivals as he did on Stage 9 to secure fourth with a time of five hours, 44 minutes, and 23 seconds.
In the process, Tarrés extended his lead at the top of the two-cylinder +700 class to over nine hours. He remains fifth in the general classification, with a combined time of 48 hours, 31 minutes and 34 seconds, having clawed back some time in the rider ahead of him in fourth.
