Laia Sanz: “It was another real Dakar this year. It was a tough Dakar.”

lya sands (Corbera de Llobregat, 1985) managed to lure numbers associated with bad luck to finish his 13th participation in the rally, but was not without problems. DakarAs such, he has maintained an immaculate winning streak, first on a motorcycle and now on a car, consistently crossing the finish line.

The 13 edition of Dakar was completed in 13 attempts. what does that tell you?

That’s what I’m proud of. We all know how difficult it is to complete. Dakar and likely to cause problems. I’m proud I had a good position on the bike. Now I am starting a new phase of the car. This cost a little more than usual, but it’s done. I am very satisfied.

This is one of the most compromised editions of that record. When you reached the finish line on the final day… were you more disappointed that you didn’t reach the level cap and relieved that it ended with a happy ending?

On the other hand, 13 out of 13 are very complicated and very few people ever complete them, so I’m very happy to finish. But on the other hand, our initial goal was to finish in the top 15. Could have been better. It has never been made and the taste is bittersweet. The positive remains that I knew how to overcome difficulties, finish each day, and maintain a good rhythm when everything was going well.

What’s the key to being consistently reliable?

When things happened, they weren’t serious enough to have to end, so there’s definitely some luck. Knowing the race, knowing how to make sense of it, is what I’ve always been good at, and the combination of all this has always allowed us to finish.

Is Al-Attiyah the one to beat now?

He’s a crack, but his car is more proven than the others and he’s more comfortable racing than the others. On top of that, he spent his year running and was virtually born there, so he has terrain vision and dune reading, which gives him a huge edge.

Arriving at a safe port is one of the few positive pieces of news for the Spanish riders in this edition. How would you describe how things went so badly? Was there anything that changed or was decisive compared to previous years?

again this year Dakar It’s a really hard Dakar and it’s difficult to finish. This was something I missed in the previous edition. However, I had a bit of bad luck. Carlos Sainz I had an accident too. Few people have had problems with this edition. Obviously, it comes at a cost.

Do you prefer rallies like this?

i loved this DakarLike last year, I sometimes criticized it, but this time I congratulate the organization. I like the Dakar because it’s hard, things happen, it’s hard to finish and it’s not all bottoming out.

The last couple of years I could have re-enlisted with a high penalty, so I didn’t have the same merit to quit. was. We finished another edition and it’s been a very good one for me.

Do you prefer cars over motorcycles?

They are different times. I would have a hard time choosing anything. The bike has given me brutal satisfaction and incredible results. But right now I’m only thinking about four wheels. The bike was already behind us and it was a very nice stage. Four wheels excites me a lot now.

Are there any bike “bugs”?

A: I had a day out of the sand stage which I liked and I was more or less good at it. But I’ve spent years risking my life by leaving early in the morning in the cold.

Do you think the level of motorcycles has dropped a bit?

Atrocities have increased significantly over the past five years. We’re all new generations running and pushing the limits every day, so we do things differently. Previously, there were races on specific days, more strategies, and two drivers could win. Now there are 10 people. That’s amazing, the level is crazy.

The role of Cristina Gutierrez is also good news. Do you think women are becoming more prominent in rallies, making way for those who come from behind?

insurance. He had 3 years when we started she was 3 years old when I started and I think he was almost 50 this year. In addition, Saudi Arabian women participate and perform better each time. Numbers like this are needed to pave the way and for more to come behind.