Explore challenging Saudi Arabian route for Dakar 2020

posted:

06/01/2020

Twelve stages over 7,500km with 75 percent taking place across tricky sand

The world's most fearsome off-road race launches on Sunday, January 5 with hundreds of the planet's best drivers, navigators and riders tackling a gruelling rally-raid route like no other. After 11 editions in South America, the race switches to Saudi Arabia with 12 stages over 7,500km including three super-tough stages that are longer than 750km and 75 percent of the rally taking place on sand.

2020 Dakar Rally route in Saudi Arabia

Stage 1 – January 5
The 2020 Dakar starts off in Jeddah, covering a total of 752km, with the competitors finishing the day in Al Wajh. Special stages, from which overall classifications are created, make up 319km of the opening day’s racing.

Stage 2 – January 6
The racing continues on from Al Wajh to Neom, with competitors enjoying a shorter day at 401km overall. Those expecting the racing to be any less furious will be in for a shock, however, as special stages account for a full 367km of the route.

Stage 3 – January 7
Stage three will see competitors start and finish the day in Neom, but they’ll still be covering a challenging 489km overall, with 404km marked as special.

Stage 4 – January 8
Leaving Neom, the race heads to Al-`Ula, some 676km away. It’s another challenging day when it comes to the overall classification, with a huge 453km marked as special.

Stage 5 – January 9
Stage five sees competitors race between Al-`Ula and Ha'il, covering a total distance of 563km. 353km of that is special, giving racers a slightly easier – or at least shorter – day when it comes to overall timings.

Stage 6 – January 10
The race then continues to Riyadh in one of the longest stages of the 2020 Dakar, with over 478km marked as special and a huge 830km travelled in total.

Rest day – January 11
After such a monster stage, competitors and teams alike will be glad of the rest day, with the rally staying in Riyadh for some much-needed repair and recovery.

Stage 7 – January 12
Stage 7 sees the teams back on the road again, this time heading from Riyadh to Wadi Al Dawasir. It’s 741km in total, with a tough 546km of special stages.

Stage 8 – January 13
Competitors will spend all of the eighth stage in Wadi Al Dawasir, although they'll be competing for time across 474km of special stages and traveling a tough 713km in total.

Stage 9 – January 14
We’re well past the halfway point and heading into the closing stages come January 14, where drivers and riders will be heading from Wadi Al Dawasir to Haradh. It’s the longest stage of the race, at 891km, with competitors battling for time over 415km.

Stage 10 – January 15
Things don’t get any easier the next day, with a route from Haradh to Shubaytah that includes 534km of special stages and 608km in total.

Stage 11 – January 16
The penultimate day’s action also includes the final super-long stage, at 744km, from Shubaytah to Haradh. Competitors will battle for time over 379km of special stages.

Stage 12 – January 17
From Haradh, the rally heads onto the home straight, with a relatively modest 447km, and 374km of special stages, to the finish in Qiddiya.