Back to the Roots of Rally-Raid: A Demanding and Authentic 48H Chrono Stage
Dakar Rally 2025 : Stage 2
Back to the Roots of Rally-Raid: A Demanding and Authentic 48H Chrono Stage
The challenge of the 48-Hour Chrono stage lived up to its reputation as one of the most grueling and iconic moments in recent Dakar history. Despite the intense conditions, it encapsulated the rally-raid’s roots—demanding endurance, skill, and resilience.
Lorenzo Santolino finished P11 with a total time of 11h38, just 25 minutes behind the leadear.
Rui Gonçalves secured P24, facing a 15-minute penalty for missing a waypoint.
They are respectively P12 and P23 at the standing of the race.
Due to severe storms in the Al Henakiyah region, the organizers have decided to modify the program for tomorrow’s stage. The route will be shortened to 327 km instead of the original 496 km, bypassing the rain-affected zones. This lighter stage will provide riders and their machines a much-needed respite before tackling the marathon stage scheduled for January 8th and 9th.
Lorenzo Santolino : “After two days that felt like a week, we’re finally back at the bivouac. Yesterday was a long and challenging day with varied terrain: rocks, cacti, mountains, and dunes to finish.
In the first mountain sector, a wire on the track got caught in my brakes, forcing me to stop for repairs. I managed to continue, but I lost my front brake when the hose broke due to the wire.
The dunes with fesh-fesh were another test. I got stuck several times, and at one point, it felt like a motocross race with other riders. After the neutralization, I pushed hard to catch up to the group, but the dust clogged the air filter, reducing my bike’s performance.
Today, I managed to reach the front in the dunes, but on the fast sections (140–150 km/h), I had to be cautious without a front brake.
Despite losing some time, I’m happy with our progress. There’s still a long Dakar ahead, and we’ll take it day by day. Thanks to everyone for the support!”
Rui Gonçalves : “Here we are after the 48-Hour Chrono stage—definitely one of the toughest I’ve ever done in Dakar. We faced countless soft dunes; I got stuck four times and had to turn the bike around to get free. Staying calm was key, knowing it would be a long stage.
Unfortunately, as we neared the end, the sun was behind the mountains, creating shadows. I didn’t see a rock and hit it, leading to a crash. It wasn’t at high speed, but the impact was heavy, leaving me sore and making it difficult to recover or sleep well that night.
Today, I started in the front group but it was difficult to find some waypoints and I missed a one while navigating. Still, it was crucial to finish because the race is long, and there’s a lot ahead.”
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