Adrien Van Beveren: “I just wanted to enjoy myself”

Dakar 2025 | Stage 5 | ALULA > HAIL
January 9 ^th 2025 - 13:41 [GMT + 3]

The French rider is satisfied with last stage before the rest day, having climbed from 6th to 4th place in the general rankings by obtaining a stage victory for the 6th time on the Dakar. However, he does have regrets about an up and down first week.

“I made some small mistakes but in such a maze it was difficult for everybody to navigate. You had to be accurate and it wasn’t easy. I wasn’t able to express myself like I wanted to on the first stage and that was a double blow for me because, with the reverse order start on the 48 HR Chrono, I set off in front of all my main rivals. After that, I fell twice at the start of the rally because I wanted to make up for the time lost, whereas usually I don’t fall very often. Today wasn’t about strategy for me, I just wanted to enjoy myself and I was able to. Up until now, it’s been a Dakar in and among the rocks. I hope there will be more sand later on. But that’s just how the terrain is, we have to adapt to it and accept it. We’re doing the best we can”.