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ASO, the Paris-Dakar organizers have published the route of the 2004 edition of their popular rally last week. It is a pure and true Paris-Dakar, not like some previous years where the organizers have tried different types of routes.
A total of 11,090 kilometers (6,891 miles) will have been gobbled up by the contestants (minimum, since many get lost), of which 5,430 kilometers are "specials" and 5,660 are liaisons.
Within Africa (where the real fun starts), 9,332 kms will be covered, while the back-up trucks will be driving 8,798 kms. The longest stage will be from Tan-Tan to Atar, 1,055 kms, the longest special will be from Tidjikja to Nema, 736 kms.
17 days of grueling, tough and very hard riding. As usual, the bikers have the most difficult job. In the next 3 weeks, I'll be highlighting some of the private teams.
I was planning to go to Clermont-Ferrand to see the riders off, but can not find a hotel in 100 kilometers radius of the start, so unless a miracle happens, I'm going to have to look at some other way of spending that time....
Click here to visit the Dakar website.
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