Dakar Stage 12

Jan 14

Much like at San Juan there is a set spectator zone but it is 147km from Cachi, we thought about riding out to it but after 20km of pounding down Rte 40 we realized that by the time we got there the racers would be gone. Instead we turned back to town and scouted out a good photo spot along the way. Then it was just a matter of waiting for the competitors to pass by. The website has the riders at the spectator zone at 1pm and after talking with a fellow at the fuel stop he figured they should be here by about 4pm. Awesome now we can hang out around town for the afternoon then ride out to our photo spot and see what we can get for photos.

A little tow needed for #7

I set up the GoPro on my little tripod and then settled in on a ledge at the apex of a curve, a perfect spot to see some cornering. Brenda chose to be more freelance and moved from spot to spot as the wind changed and the dust clouds drifted in one direction then the other.

After a while the action thinned out and we figured it was time to head back to town and see if we could see anything at the biovauc. In Cachi they were in a secured area but completely visible from the street. This was mostly due the fact that for this stage the riders did not have individual support teams, instead they all go to share one very large rolling tool crib thus creating a much smaller space. Three of the Honda riders were busy swapping engines as their best hope for a podium finish (#7) blew his engine and a fellow teammate (#2) had to sacrifice his bike for the good of the team. I am sure they will get penalized for this but it is better than not finishing.

We also get a glimpse of many other riders as they swarm around their bikes trying to do all types of repairs before the start of the next stage. This also cuts into their rest/sleep time which is just as important as a good running bike. The Honda guys get the spotlight in front of the tool crib but other riders just push their bikes over and do their repairs that was as there are not enough jack stands to go around. Once all the preparations are make the bikes get bagged and tagged then the riders can go to sleep or whatever.

We assume that inside the rec-center there is a caterer and dormitory style sleeping quarters. This is an interesting contrast to all the hype that surrounded the San Juan biovauc, here it is very quiet away from the press in a sleepy little town. Not what one would expect for the biggest enduro race on the planet.

The riders started this stage at 6:30am, it is now 11:30pm and some of the competitors are still wrenching in the hopes of making the 7am starting gate. We decide to call it a night and as we walk back to the hotel two more quads pull into town, that would make 17hrs on the trail and now they get to prep their machines for tomorrow. One is the Argentine lady rider who is so tiny she looks like a 12yr old on the quad.

We awake to the sound of a helicopter, which can only mean that the race is about to start and the camera crews are taking to the air to capture the event. The official start line is supposed to be 40km south of town and was supposed to start at 6:30am, it is now 7am and they still here in town. Brenda rushes out to get some more photos as I spread out on the bed and try to catch a bit more sleep. I tossed and turned last night so did not feel very rested, in hindsight I imagine that the competitors felt much the same but had no option but to suck it up and get out there.

This guy looks rough and the day is just starting.But then his helmet does have a mohawk attached to it.

Yup that is a girl, there are a few ladies in the race.

To our surprise the Honda team left the carcass of the bike behind, at least for now, who knows if a support truck comes and picks it up but for now the only thing left in the secure area is the motorless carcass of a 450cc Dakar Rally bike