Marko Hanželic
7.646 kilometers, of which 4.767 with a schedule divided into twelve stages: these are the basic data of the rally route Dakar 2021 in Saudi Arabia. The start will be on January 3 at Jedi, where the endurance rally will also end on January 15th. Compared to last year when it was Dakar Rally for the first time in Saudi Arabia, participants can expect an almost entirely new route.
January 2 - prologue: Jeddah - Jeddah (11 km)
The prologue is a short start so that participants can find themselves in competitive mode. The short route is about 30 kilometers away from King Abdullah Stadium, the terrain is sandy. The result of the prologue determines the initial order for the first real stage.
January 3: Jeddah - Bisa (622 km SS 277 km)
On the first day, the rally takes participants through many valleys. Navigation is being tested for the first time because there are a lot of detours. In addition, drivers should watch out for tires on rocky sections.
January 4: Bisa - Wadi Al Dawasir (685 km SS 457 km)
The first dunes await the participants in the first third of the stage. About 30 kilometers of dune belts present the first challenge: yellow dunes dominate the landscape, and white dunes provide some contrast.
January 5: Wadi Al Dawasir - Wadi Al Dawasir (630 km SS 403 km)
Circular stage through the largest sandy desert in the world, Rub al-Chali. The sand dunes alternate at this stage with fast sections that allow top racers to make a difference.
January 6: Wadi Al Dawasir - Riyadh (813 km SS 337 km)
Including the connecting route, this is the longest stage of the rally. But the sports part is not the biggest challenge. Many curved sections do not allow participants to breathe. No one can afford to make mistakes.
January 7: Riyadh - Buraida (625 km SS 419 km)
A long difficult stage, where the average speed will be quite low due to the demanding terrain. In the middle of the stage, the participants are surrounded by high sand dunes, and quite a few parts run on a stone base, which means that it will be necessary to watch out for tires.
January 8: Buraida - Ha'il (655 km SS 485 km)
The route to Ha'il will again be more sandy varieties with quite a few dunes, which will be especially demanding for motorcyclists. Some of them will reach the bivouac only in the dark.
January 9: Day of Rest (Ha'il)
After six busy days, a welcome day of rest is on the agenda, as the second week of the Dakar awaits participants with many more challenges.
January 10: Ha'il - Sakaka (737 km SS 471 km) - marathon stage
The second week of the Dakar begins with a marathon stage, which in the first part takes place in a hilly area, with many altitude meters, which can cause overheating of the powertrains. At the end of the stage, it runs along a rocky plateau, where the twisted parts alternate with fast sections. In the camp, the competitors are alone and cannot count on the help of mechanics.
January 11: Sakaka - Neom (709 km SS 375 km)
In the second part of the marathon stage, those who were more careful in the first part usually win. At first the terrain is sandy again, then more rocky. Navigation is very important here. The landscape in northern Saudi Arabia is also impressive.
January 12: Neom - Neom (579 km SS 465 km)
Circular stage near the Red Sea. This area should not be underestimated because the terrain is very varied. This will be one of the hardest days in those two weeks.
January 13: Neom - Al-'Ula (583 km SS 342 km)
The trail goes south again and through hilly, diverse landscape. The sandy section will once again be a test for navigation. From a sports point of view, the decision is getting closer.
January 14: Al-'Ula - Yanbu (557 km SS 511 km)
The penultimate day of the rally is on the penultimate day. The dunes have returned and could make a decision. The dune belt is about 100 kilometers long and re-tests participants in all possible aspects of preparation.
January 15: Yanbu - Jeddah (452 km SS 225 km)
It will not be possible to walk to the destination, which is located on the shores of the Red Sea. Before the winners can celebrate, a few more dune belts need to be beaten. Cars in particular can get stuck in the sand and any mistake can be fatal to ranking.
