Dakar 2014 - 1st Stage Sunday 05th Jan

rizzodun

So the 2014 Dakar kicks off on Sunday, love watching this every year, and something I would love to do myself.

Will anyone be following this? Who's your favourites for the different categories?

In the bikes I'll be interested to see how Cyril Despres does this year on the Yamaha, after making the move from the dominant KTM bike.

In the cars I'll be looking to see if someone can stop Stéphane Peterhansel's mini this year, after winning last year by a big margin.

Not as familiar with the trucks but it was a Russian Kamaz lockout last year, so will be interesting to see if they can achieve the same this year.

Follow it with nightly highlights on Eurosport, and online with live feed/stage timing at dakar.com

Nordicgael

Yeap i always look forward to the dakar too- best thing bout Janurary to me :-).... altough it doesnt quiet have the same appeal as when it accually went through the sahara to dakar.
Peterhansel must be hot favourite again this year - once the car stays realible.
shame there are no irish lads on the bikes like there has been in the past but always great to watch the terrifying speed these guys do.
As for the trucks - mental to think something so big and heavy can race so fast.
Cant wait for it to begin :-)

Donnelly117

Nordicgael wrote: »

Yeap i always look forward to the dakar too- best thing bout Janurary to me :-).... altough it doesnt quiet have the same appeal as when it accually went through the sahara to dakar.
Peterhansel must be hot favourite again this year - once the car stays realible.
shame there are no irish lads on the bikes like there has been in the past but always great to watch the terrifying speed these guys do.
As for the trucks - mental to think something so big and heavy can race so fast.
Cant wait for it to begin :-)

Where do you folks watch it? Is it on tv somewhere? Or do you watch on the internet?

Nordicgael

As the op posted- there will be hightlights of each days stage on eurosport and you can follow it daily on dakar.com- website is great for live times and interviews but eurosports coverage is great - they have covered the dakar for years :-)

rizzodun

Donnelly117 wrote: »

Where do you folks watch it? Is it on tv somewhere? Or do you watch on the internet?

As Nordigeal touched on, the eurosport coverage is really good, they've been doing it for years and while it is short, there's probably little else they can do seeing the whole scale of the competition and difference between the vehicles, if you haven't seen it, watch it, you'll be amazed.

Donnelly117

rizzodun wrote: »

As Nordigeal touched on, the eurosport coverage is really good, they've been doing it for years and while it is short, there's probably little else they can do seeing the whole scale of the competition and difference between the vehicles, if you haven't seen it, watch it, you'll be amazed.

Cheers lads! I'm looking forward to watching some of it this year. My only experience of it so far is that documentary Charlie boorman did with obi wan kenobi. It looks absolutely nuts!

rizzodun

Donnelly117 wrote: »

Cheers lads! I'm looking forward to watching some of it this year. My only experience of it so far is that documentary Charlie boorman did with obi wan kenobi. It looks absolutely nuts!

Obi wan didn't actually do the Dakar with Boorman, but Race to Dakar is a great doc for anyone who hasn't seen it! Stick it on series link so you catch the whole event and enjoy.

Donnelly117

rizzodun wrote: »

Obi wan didn't actually do the Dakar with Boorman, but Race to Dakar is a great doc for anyone who hasn't seen it! Stick it on series link so you catch the whole event and enjoy.

Oh yea...it was the long way round they did together wasn't it...

rizzodun

Stage one highlights and summary on eurosport now...

rizzodun

Another black day for the Dakar as Belgian bike rider Eric Palante's body was found 140km into the fifth stage (Thursday stage) this morning, a reminder of just how dangerous this event is. RIP

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/dakar-belgian-biker-palante-dies-dakar-rally-160443482--spt.html

Zcott

Some great photos of Dakar at The Atlantic's photography blog, In Focus.

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2014/01/the-2014-dakar-rally/100662/