Jeddah: The competitors for the 2021 Dakar Rally have started gathering in the city of Jeddah as Saudi Arabia prepares to host the gruelling contest for the second time.
Under the glare of the desert sun, the Dakar convoy will depart for 12 punishing stages that will push the crews and their machines to breaking point.
The brand-new route will cover almost 5,000 kilometres of sandy terrain - and there are important changes to the rules too.
All bike and quad riders must wear an airbag jacket, and the roadbook - basically a detailed manual describing the route - will only be handed out 10 minutes before the start of each stage, rather than the night before, to add to the navigational challenges.
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Carlos Sainz will be challenging for a fourth Dakar title in the auto section, while nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb will return after missing last year's edition.
Leading the bike charge will be defending champion Ricky Brabec, while Andrey Karginov will be back behind the wheel of his truck as he aims for a third Dakar victory.
