Lima - January 6th, 2019
Contenders for the Dakar titles have spent months focusing on their objective. However, the last few days before the race have been the ideal time to sit back and relax... or even go on holiday! Stéphane Peterhansel, for example, took the opportunity to go on a romantic break in Machu Picchu with his wife, Andrea, who will be racing in a Side by Side (SxS) in her Dakar comeback. Nasser Al-Attiyah, on the other hand, embarked on a gastronomic adventure and even learned to make ceviche with one of the most famous chefs in Lima.
Dakar in Numbers
541 competitors and 334 vehicles —137 motorbikes, 26 quads, 130 cars (including 30 SxS) and 41 trucks— were cleared to start the 41st edition of the Dakar at the end of the technical and administrative scrutineering.
[gallery type="rectangular" ids="65108,65106,65110,65114,65112,65116"]
Dakar Festivities
Before the start of the race, the drivers, riders and crews will get a big send-off from the fans during the podium ceremony in Lima. The celebration will take place on Magdalena beach, where over 100,000 visitors flocked to enjoy a wide range of activities in the Feria Dakar over the last three days.
[gallery type="columns" ids="65121,65120,65123"]
The first round comes tomorrow with a sand-packed 84 km course in the Pisco region. Let the dune festival begin!
Photos & Story courtesy of Dakar.com
[gallery link="file" ids="65108,65124,65123,65122,65121,65120,65118,65117,65116,65115,65114,65113,65112,65111,65110,65109,65107,65106" orderby="rand"]
