VOL. 53 ISSUE 19 MAY 17, 2016 P45
2017 DAKAR RALLY STAGES ANNOUNCED
T
he Dakar Rally 2017 may be eight months
away but the race organizers are already
drumming up excitement for the 39th edition
of the race. The 2017 Dakar stages have been
announced, and Rally Dakar Sporting Director
Marc Coma has revealed the first details about
the new course. The biggest news is the inclu-
sion of Paraguay, where the rally will kick off. The
opening stage departs from Paraguay's capital
city of Asuncion on January 2, and then heads to
Argentina where the majority of the rally will take
place. Bolivia will be host to four stages plus the
rest day in La Paz, and the race will culminate on
January 14 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Full details on the route won't be announced
until November, but Coma has announced that
riders can expect some lengthy stages and high
altitudes—two factors he promises will be key to
the 2017 Dakar Rally.
"The Dakar 2017 will once again be a really tough
race," said factory HRC Honda rider Michael
Metge. "There will be two important factors: the
high altitude and three 450km special stages
plus another 750km will put us and the bikes to
the test. We will have to work hard during the
season to arrive there on top form in this new
challenge for the team." CN
2017 DAKAR RALLY STAGES
January 2 Asuncion (PAR) – Resistencia (ARG)
January 3 Resistencia (ARG) – San Miguel de Tucuman (ARG)
January 4 San Miguel de Tucuman (ARG) – San Salvador de Jujuy (ARG)
January 5 San Salvador de Jujuy (ARG) – Tupiza (BOL)
January 6 Tupiza (BOL) – Oruro (BOL)
January 7 Oruro (BOL) – La Paz (BOL)
January 8 Rest Day in La Paz
January 9 La Paz (BOL) – Uyuni (BOL)
January 10 Uyuni (BOL) – Salta (ARG)
January 11 Salta (ARG) – Chilecito (ARG)
January 12 Chilecito (ARG) – San Juan (ARG)
January 13 San Juan (ARG) – Rio Cuarto (ARG)
January 14 Rio Cuarto (ARG) – Buenos Aires (ARG)
