In this new edition of the Dakar, the competitors will face an intense adventure with 7,706 kilometres, including 5,146 kilometres of timed special stages, spread over 12 stages which, for the first time, five stages will have separate routes for the different vehicles. The very tough 48-hour time trial will take place at the start of the race, followed by the marathon stage. The first few days will probably be decisive, with the drivers being sifted through the field to leave the best-prepared drivers who have managed to overcome all the problems in the race. At this point, the second week will be all about Shubaytah, the great feat to be achieved after leaving behind a sea of dunes such as the lonely and demanding Empty Quarter.

The Dakar prologue (Bisha-Bisha) will kick off the action in this 2025 edition on 3 January, with a 79-kilometre liaison stage and a 29-kilometre special stage on a tough terrain, with large dirt and gravel tracks, intertwined with other technical sections, where it will be necessary to be precise with the lines. As it is short, the differences between the participants will probably be minimal, especially among the leaders, knowing that the ten fastest riders in the FIM will be able to choose their position with respect to the starting order of the first stage.

The Rieju team will be represented together with the Pedregà Team in the mythical competition, with riders Daniel Nosiglia, Josep Pedró and Marc Calmet, who arrive well prepared, with a lot of enthusiasm and desire to improve their results to date. Regarding the technical and logistical staff, we rely on the professionalism of David Palmada, ‘Pelut’ who will celebrate in this edition his 25 participations as mechanical specialist, in addition, also from the paddock of the race, will be Arnau Mateu ‘Willy Foxx’, contributing his vision of the team and the events in the day to day of the race, publishing interesting live content on our Instagram, which will surely captivate you. Don't miss it!

First statements from the riders from the XXL bivouac in Bisha:

Daniel Nosiglia:
‘We are already in Saudi Arabia, in the tests prior to what is going to be the Dakar; the truth is that happy, we have done a small test of 21 kilometres and we have had good feelings, it is the first contact we have here in Arabia with the bike, so very happy.’

Josep Pedró:
‘Well, we are already in Arabia, we have already put on the lights suit, the truth is that it has been many months of preparation and waiting, but the day has arrived. We have had the first contact with the bike and now we are going out to do the ‘Shakedown’, the first sensations are perfect, physically I feel better than ever, mentally I think I come very well prepared, so let's go for it’.

Marc Calmet:
‘We are in the days leading up to the start of the race, already looking forward to getting into the rhythm, seeing what the first kilometres are like, learning a bit of what the navigation will be like this year and well, again in the desert. For me, this first week will be about taking it easy, not getting lost, getting into the rhythm of the race and avoiding crashes. During the second week I will try to push a bit. I am very happy to be here, today we are doing the shakedown, we are going to test the bike and start to see what the feeling is like. The truth is that I'm very happy with the team and so far everything is going really well’.