Dakar

The fifth edition of the Dakar in Saudi Arabia promises to push man and machine harder than any of the previous ones. After the first week, in which the competitors will feel the heat from the start in AlUla, the field will tackle an Empty Quarter triptych introducing a brand-new concept: a 48 h chrono stage held over two days in which the competitors, scattered among eight bivouacs, will be basically left to their own devices. The rest day in Riyadh will only provide a brief respite, as the varied terrain between that point and the finish in Yanbu is riddled with navigational challenges that could shift the balance of power at any time.