We finish the third and final special section of the day at some point in the afternoon . I ’ m no longer keeping track of time at this point , only how many hours it ’ s been since I started riding , as it ’ s easier to track this against the time sheet . I reset the bike clock at the start line every morning , as this is the only time that really matters right now . I ’ ve been on the bike for nine and half hours now , with less than a five-minute break .
My heckles pick up a mile later , as we turned off the tarmac once again and onto a gravel track . More off road - really ? It ’ s time to call it a day , but I can sense there is more to come , more to give .
I am with two new friends , Walter , and Hoop , both Dutchmen , and both great riders . Walter has impressively completed the Dakar three times on a bike . We banded together on the track earlier at some point today and have managed to stick together since . Partners on the race come and go like this . One minute there are a few laughs and smiles as we nervously eye up the special stages , the next we help each other pick up our bikes and struggle together in tricky terrain , and then with one small , unexpected move ; there is total separation , until sharing a beer later at the Bivouac .
We immediately start to climb through a dense wood , grateful for some shade in the afternoon heat . This year ’ s Gibraltar Race has been somewhat of an afterthought , and hastily put together with the global Covid complications . It ’ s been a mixed bag so far , but all the riders are grateful
NEWS MAGAZINE
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TRAVERSE 156