2016 Dakar won by Australian Toby Price
The Dakar is one of the most gruelling offload races, if not the most gruelling, in the world. Toby Price from NSW has won it by over 40 minutes to his closest competitor. He is the first Australian to ever win overall. And this is only his second attempt. How good is that?
The Dakar has been going for many years. Back in the 70’s it was a dessert race from Paris to Dakar, hence the name. But in recent years North Africa became rather unstable and the organisers had to move the race elsewhere. The closest they found that resembled the African conditions was the South American dessert. The route is different every year. They start in Argentina and usually head west into the mountains. From there it’s across the border and into the neighbouring countries.
Like in Africa, the Dakar race is split into race stages and liaisons. The motorbike rider get off to an early start. Sometimes it’s freezing when they start and by the time they finish they deal with over 40 degrees Celsius. It’s not just an endurance race, it’s physically straining and mentally draining. They get stuck in the mud, rocks and sand. They get flooded, washed away, burnt to a crisp and sand blasted to bare metal. Only the toughest get through.
And it doesn’t go to plan for the best either. So many fall by the wayside. The Dakar has it’s own way to week out the weak. There are multiple world champions who failed miserably and embarrassingly. Just because you are a champion doesn’t guarantee that you are successful at the Dakar. It has swallowed up many great names.
This year was Toby Price’s year and he won the race comprehensively. I hope he can keep fit and injury free to defend his position next year
Danny
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