Dakar 2023, 14 stages and a revolutionised route: all the new features

For the fourth consecutive year, the Dakar will once again take place in Saudi Arabia in 2023. But the riders are in for some surprises, starting with the route itself, more than 70% of which will be new according to the organisers. The action will get underway on 31 December 2022 from Sea Camp, before reaching Dammam on 15 January 2023 after 14 special stages and a prologue that will amount to more than 5000 km of timed stages.

Three-day Marathon stage and new roadbooks

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As ever, the event will also include a Marathon stage, in which riders cannot count on the support park. This year it will last three days, made up of the days on which the specials will take place in the famous “Empty Quarter”.

The roadbooks also come in for a change, divided into A and B and distributed according to a draw. These will present a different order for certain waypoints to be reached during the stage, so that it’s tougher for riders to make up time by using the tracks of riders ahead of them. The winners of the various specials will be able to count on a compensation of their total time so that they don’t suffer the disadvantage of having to open proceedings the following day.

New categories

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A distinction will also be made between the professional and very experienced riders, who will compete as “Factory” entries, and those who are riding for the first time or have no particular goals, who will be known as “Explorers”: the best will be compensated with bonuses at the end of the stages.

Lastly, Dakar Future is back, allowing participants to take part with vehicles of low environmental impact. This was also the case last year, with Sainz, Ekstrom and Peterhansel all using electric Audis in the car category. As for the bikes, Italian rider Tiziano Internò may use a full-electric vehicle.

Translated by Heather Watson

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