The beginning of the 11th stage quickly ascended to an altitude of 3500 meters in the Andes Mountains. As the riders left Chile through the Paso Libertatdores and reentered Argentina, all eyes were on Marc Coma who set out to win his third consecutive stage victory.
However, after a navigational mistake cost Coma his early lead, Dutchman Frans Verhoeven took the opportunity to ride to his first stage win of the 32nd Dakar. Verhoeven, who claims his third overall win, rode a BMW to the manufacturer's first Dakar stage win since 2001.
American Jonah Street also added some new blood to the podium today. Street, who had yet to finish in the top five, claimed 
second place for the stage just 3 seconds behind Verhoeven.
The big winner of the day, however, was Pal Anders Ullevalseter. Ullevalseter, who has battled with Lopez Contardo and Helder Rodriguez for second place in the overall standings was able to widen the gap. Ullevalseter, who finished in fourth place behind Alain Duclos, is now three minutes ahead of Contardo, and ten minutes ahead of Rodriguez.
Cyril Despres maintained his hour and twenty minute lead over Ullevalseter with a seventh-place finish.
“Was I being extremely careful? No,” says Despres. “When I climb on the bike, I just can’t hold myself back. I just want to have fun.”
