THE ROUTE
With a distance of close to 3500 kilometres between the Bolivian border and the extremity of Terra Del Fuego, Argentina has the aspect of a country-continent. Its dimension on the north-south axe as well as on the east-west line, gives the country several faces. On a climatic, mountainous and life style point of view, variety marks the many areas of Argentina. A welcome land for the Spaniards during the first waves of immigration in the XVIth century, and then for Italians, Germans and French attracted by the prosperity of the capital in the XIXth century, Argentina has through different periods invented a one-of-a-kind cultural model that the Europeans have easily acclimated to.
Argentina and sport
The whole country lives at the rhythm of the Albiceleste national football team, victorious of the World Cup on two occasions in 1978 and 1986 and also winner of fourteen Copa America trophies. While the nation's sport hero remains Diego Maradona, it was however the squad of Passarella, Ardiles and Kempes that for the first time led the blue and white team to a planetary success. And striker Gabriele Battistuta, Batigol, emblem of the after Maradona era holds the record for international goals scored with the national team (56). The passion for football doesn't await the big international events to express itself. The Buenos Aires derby between Boca Juniors and River Plate, in the Bombonera stadium is considered as one of the wildest of the planet.
Many other ambassadors have nourished the front pages of the newspapers around the World staring with Guillermo Vilas, a pioneer of the Argentinean tennis school who managed great performances on clay. While she failed to triumph like her elder at Roland-Garros, Gabriela Sabatini did however conquer the US Open title back in 1990. In the men's event, Gaston Gaudio lifted the Musketeers trophy at the French Open in 2004, 27 years after his mentor in a 100% Argentinean final against Guillermo Coria.
The patriotic pride of the Argentineans also found a way of expression during the Athens Olympic Games where the basketball team led by Manu Ginobili, overcame the American favourites and then the Italians on their way to conquer gold. Also in white and blue, the Pumas troubled the international rugby hierarchy when they finished third of the 2007 World Cup played in France.
In motorsports, Juan-Manuel Fangio, a five-time F1 World champion in the fifties, of course remains the reference driver in the history of the country. His successor is still to come but the master gave many, the desire to compete. Indeed, all disciplines put together, the Argentine Motorsports federation is one of the most important in the World. In off-road rallies, the Por las Pampas event has become one of the important dates of the season. On its record book are names such as Luc Alphand, Jean-Louis Schlesser, Bruno Saby or Marc Coma.
On the Dakar, the bunch of experienced Argentineans has for the moment failed to impress, despite the fact that the Sergio Gora - Pablo Gomes crew managed on two occasions to finish the event, with an excellent 45th spot overall in 2002. It is probably at home that the show will take place.
Brief info…
Population: 39 921 833 inh.
Surface: 2 766 890 km2
Capital: Buenos Aires (13 000 000 inh.)
Money: Argentine Peso
Official language: Spanish
Main cities: Cordoba (1 300 000 inhab.), Mendoza (1 100 000), Rosario (1 095 000), La Plata (857 800), Tucuman (833 100)
Long and slim. Chile's physiognomy, with limits stuck between the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Andes Mountains on the other, makes it one of the longest countries on the planet. With 4300 kilometres from north to south (close to a total of 5400 km of sea line!), Chile has no equivalent in the domain. On the other hand its width never exceeds 349 km and even drops down to around fifteen kilometres in the south. On this filiform territory all the types of climates are witnessed as well as depth. From the Atacama Desert, known as one of the most arid in the World to the top of the Ojos del Salado, the highest active volcano on the globe (6893 m), Chile offers a wide range of different landscapes. Concerning encounters, the variety is also impressive: one can easily meet lamas but also Emperor penguins!
Chile and sport
Not as much a king as for its neighbours, Chilean football can boast a third spot earned during the World Cup organised at home in 1962. The performances of the Colo-Colo club, winner of the Copa Libertadores, or of its expatriots in Europe Marcelo Salas and Ivan Zamorano, however give the country an excellent reputation.
Concerning the Olympics, a tennis pair offered the nation its very first gold medal thanks to Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu. Another Chilean player, Marcelo Rios, impressed when he became the number one player in the World ranking despite never managing to win a Grand Slam tournament.
In motorsports, it's on two wheels that the best Chilean representative performed. A talented enduro rider, Carlo De Gavardo mainly shined during the Dakar where he finished five times in the top 10, clinching third spot on the podium in 2001. Decided to switch to cars, he also started a career as a team manager. De Gavardo also showed the path to a talented prospect in the discipline, the winner of the 2006 off-road World Cup in the 450cc class, Francisco "Chaleco" Lopez.
On four wheels, the next Dakar has great chances of welcoming the most complete driver of the country: Eliseo Salazar who has already witnessed the circuits of the Formula One World championship, of Le Mans and of Indy Car, is now competing in the Chilean raly championship. He’s certainly eager to take on the Dakar…
Brief info…
Population: 16 150 000 inh.
Surface: 756 945 km2
Capital: Santiago de Chile (4 400 000 inh.)
Currency: Chilean Peso
Official language: Spanish
Main cities: Concepcion (1 320 000 inh.), Puente Alto (647 600), Vina del Mar (286 931), Antofagasta (296 905), Valparaiso (275 932)