SCHERCO RACE REPORT: Dakar 2025, stage 1 Copy

Today, the Dakar Rally 2025 truly began with the first stage around Bisha: 499 km in total, including 86 km of liaison and 413 km of special stage.

Traveling south from Bisha, the altitude gradually rises to around 1,300 meters. While the drop in oxygen levels is barely noticeable, the landscape transforms significantly. Midway through the special, competitors faced tough navigation challenges, exploring canyons and climbing sandy plateaus strewn with rocks. The 413 km stage tested their focus and skill, particularly in navigating and managing the sandy terrain.

Lorenzo Santolino finished P11, a solid result despite navigation issues with his SpeedoCAP. Rui Gonçalves completed the stage in P16.

At the overall standings, Lorenzo holds P12, Rui Gonçalves is maintaining P16.

Lorenzo:
"Today wasn't a great day for me. I made many mistakes. The dust from the beginning and the low sun made it hard to see the track, making overtaking very complicated. Around kilometer 60, the SpeedoCAP started malfunctioning, blinking and resetting, which caused me to go off course in a valley.
We finished the stage with a little souvenir from a cactus that left me with a nice tattoo. On the bright side, we made it through, overcoming a day full of unexpected challenges, and I'm looking forward to giving it my all tomorrow in the 48H marathon stage."

Rui :
« Today was the first long stage of Dakar 2025—really challenging with a mix of terrain and conditions. There was a bit of everything, but the stage was particularly marked by constant changes in direction, countless notes to follow, and bushes with sharp spikes that ripped through just about everything. On top of that, the dust was a major challenge.

I think everyone made a few mistakes today, myself included. The key was to stay focused until the very end because it was such a long stage.

On the bright side, my feeling with the bike was really good, and I'm confident as we move forward. Tomorrow, we face the 48-hour Chrono stage, so the plan now is to recover and come back strong to fight for the top positions ».

Tomorrow: Stage 2 – 48H Chrono

The second stage introduces the 48H Chrono format: a marathon stage without assistance, with mandatory bivouacs determined by the distance covered.

“48H CHRONO”
The 48H Chrono pushes riders to tackle the dual challenges of self-sufficiency and performance over nearly 1,000 kilometers across two days in the desert. First introduced in 2024, this innovative format comes with a simple yet demanding rule: starting from the 5 PM gong, competitors must stop at the next available rest zone, one of six distributed along the special stage route (see map).

Standings during this stage are hard to track, as riders are completely cut off from external communication. Arrival times are eagerly awaited, and discussions abound regarding those who are late—but certainty is scarce. Instead, riders enjoy the serenity of camping under the stars, sharing a minimalist dinner with close competitors.

The next morning, at sunrise, riders resume the race from their respective rest zones, racing to complete the remaining distance as quickly as possible while preserving their mechanics—an essential rally-raid experience.

While the first 48H Chrono stage scattered competitors across the dunes of the Empty Quarter, this year's version explores the varied terrain north of Bisha. Though the dunes here are less imposing, the overall challenge remains as fierce as ever. Most riders will face at least 100 kilometers of dune navigation each day, adding another layer of complexity to the adventure.