Racing for Álex and with Álex
Dakar 2024 |
Stage 5 |
AL-HOFUF
> SHUBAYTAH
January 10
th
2024
- 13:27
[GMT + 3]
"May your passion for life inspire our future". The motto of the Spanish All1 team, displayed on the fuel tanks of their motorbikes, is a tribute to Álex Llibre, who passed away six years ago but lives on in the memories of the six riders who started the rally in AlUla. Now, only five will brave the dunes of the Empty Quarter, including Álex's twin brother, Carlos.
A band of buddies entering the Dakar on motorbikes is hardly a rare occurrence, but the camaraderie within All1 —which stands for "All for One" extends far beyond their pit in the bivouac in Al Hofuf. Back home in Barcelona, these friends shared an inseparable bond formed largely in the crucible of sports. However, their carefree existence was shattered in November 2017, when Carlos Llibre's identical twin, Álex, died in an accident. Álex's memory remains the unbreakable bond, further cemented an oath sworn on the list of 101 wishes penned by Alex in the days before his demise. One of his dreams was to enter the Dakar. This is why the six Catalans that make up the All1 team lined up in AlUla: to race for Álex and with Álex.
Carlos and his posse have already tackled numerous challenges in memory of their late friend, be it on foot, on bicycles or on motorbikes. Even so, following the Ironman 70.3 in Barcelona, the Titan Desert in Morocco and the Cape Epic in South Africa, the Dakar is by far their toughest endeavour yet, starting with the preparations for their big trip, as Javi Amat puts it: "For two years, we've poured our hearts into this. We thought we were aware of the magnitude of the project, but it went beyond our wildest expectations. With passion, a group of friends, talent, and hours and hours of work, we made it happen".
Their initial gamble paid off, as they rolled out of AlUla on their six Rieju motorbikes. However, once on the saddle, the harsh reality set in, especially with treacherous rocky terrain. This led to Fernando Conde's premature exit to the medical tent. "'Fer' broke a finger in the opening stage, he had bad luck and crashed heavily", laments Xavi Pes. "Our hearts go out to him. We wish he were here, but that's the Dakar for you." Meanwhile, the former handball player narrowly escaped a similar fate: "I sprained my ankle. Thank goodness we wear boots! Thanks to Carlos, I managed to complete the next three stages at his side. It made life easier for me because I didn't really have to check the road book. Now, with 'Fer' unfortunately cheering us on from home, it's up to us five to cross the finish line".
Álex Llibre's memory permeates All1's daily routine, but their true mission is about a philosophy of life and friendship grounded in enthusiasm and dream-chasing. Carlos, the most affable and smiley biker in the bivouac, encapsulates this sentiment: "The take-home message from All1 is that you should make your dreams come true. All1 kindled the passion for life among everyone around Álex. We've turned it into countless adventures, a life perspective, working towards what we love. Sometimes, we get caught in the daily grind, forgetting all the things within our grasp."
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