Check out the 2021 Dakar Rally calendar!
The official presentation of the detailed route for the 2021 Dakar Rally has been unveiled. The rally will be taking place in Saudi Arabia and consist of 1 prologue, 12 stages, 4800 kilometres of timed specials, two looping stages and a marathon stage. The 43rd edition of the great challenge will be getting underway in just forty days time. Reigning winners Monster Energy Honda Team will be aiming to replicate last January’s victory.
| STAGE | DATE | START > FINISH | Total | Special |
| P | Saturday, January 2, 2021 | Jeddah > Jeddah | 11 km | 11 km |
| 1 | Sunday, January 3, 2021 | Jeddah > Bisha | 622 km | 277 km |
| 2 | Monday, January 4, 2021 | Bisha > Wadi Al Dawasir | 685 km | 457 km |
| 3 | Tuesday, January 5, 2021 | Wadi Al Dawasir > Wadi Al Dawasir | 630 km | 403 km |
| 4 | Wednesday, January 6, 2021 | Wadi Al Dawasir > Riyadh | 813 km | 337 km |
| 5 | Thursday, January 7, 2021 | Riyadh > Buraydah | 625 km | 419 km |
| 6 | Friday, January 8, 2021 | Buraydah > Ha’il | 655 km | 485 km |
| Rest day | Saturday, January 9, 2021 | Ha’il | ||
| 7 | Sunday, January 10, 2021 | Ha’il > Sakaka | 737 km | 471 km |
| 8 | Monday, January 11, 2021 | Sakaka > Neom | 709 km | 375 km |
| 9 | Tuesday, January 12, 2021 | Neom > Neom | 579 km | 465 km |
| 10 | Wednesday, January 13, 2021 | Neom > Al-Ula | 583 km | 342 km |
| 11 | Thursday, January 14, 2021 | Al-Ula > Yanbu | 557 km | 511 km |
| 12 | Friday, January 15, 2021 | Yanbu > Jeddah | 452 km | 225 km |
Among the novelties to be included in the 2021 Dakar, will be the roadbook given out twenty minutes prior to the start in each of the stages. This differs from last year’s edition where the roadbooks were distributed in this manner on only half of the stages. An important change is the limitation of only six rear tyres for the entire rally, which will force riders to be far more cautious. There will be also a limit to the number of piston changes, as well as a ban on carrying out any mechanical repairs during the refuelling. Finally, the use of jackets with airbags will be mandatory for all motorcycle riders.
“The presentation was good, very different from what it could have been. The ASO has done a great job and explained the generalities of the different stages. We have a bit of information, but we can say that it will be a very tough Dakar. They want to add more navigation to slow the Dakar down and make it safer, and that’s a good thing. There will be two looping stages that, which for assistance, will be positive. The marathon stage after the rest day will be hard and tyre management will be tough for the six elite riders too.
It is, broadly speaking, a very complete, technical Dakar and, hopefully, a very good one. We think it will be more difficult than last year. We trust that they will be able to do a good job with roadbook so that riders will have some complex navigation and greater safety. It will be a great challenge for everyone. We will have to see which tyre strategy to follow as managing them will not be an easy task and the luck factor could come into play.”