A hair-brained scheme

Dakar 2025 | Stage 9 | RIYADH > HARADH
January 14 ^th 2025 - 20:59 [GMT + 3]

Manuel Lucchese is back in the Original by Motul class —for riders without service crews— after nearly a decade away. It is a two-year campaign to return by 2026 to the peak form he had in his twenties, when he clinched a top 5 finish and a podium spot in the class. Physically, the Italian almost looks younger than he did back then. The reason? He is sporting a wig from his sponsor, who teamed up with him to demonstrate the quality of its product in the toughest rally raid on Earth.

"The hardest part of the Dakar is getting to the start line. The Dakar is expensive, but anyone can do it, you just need to get creative. I've always wanted to spread that positive message." Back in the day, he embraced a new business model, turning to crowdfunding and securing the support of a multitude of small sponsors instead of a handful of big corporate backers. Their logos formed a patchwork across his gear and motorbike. "No-one's interested in putting a big logo on an amateur's bike, but people love funny stories. When I went bald, I had this idea: I messaged on Instagram a TV personality who owns a hair implant company, saying, 'Do you think your products could withstand the Dakar, the toughest rally on Earth? Worn under a helmet for fourteen days, ten hours a day, with perhaps two or three showers the whole time?' His reply? 'When can you drop by my office?'"

Manuel's wig is glued on and reinforced with hair implants. "Under normal circumstances, it needs maintenance every fifteen to twenty days, the same frequency as a regular haircut." Despite the 48 h chrono stage, the marathon stage and the limited time for personal hygiene, the hairpiece has held up all the way to stage 9 of the rally. This year's Dakar is the toughest one that the veteran rider has faced in his three finishes, which include two runs just outside the top 50 overall. "For me, this Dakar has been the hardest for two reasons. First, the specials are more technical, with slower sections that have us arriving at the bivouac between six and seven in the evening, in the dark, something that never used to happen unless you had major issues. The 48 h chrono stage immediately sorted the men from the boys. The second factor is the cold. I wondered if it was because I'm getting older or if the Dakar itself has just got harder… Or maybe it's a mix of both! One thing's for sure: after ten years without hair, I've got used to having it again. I might need to do the Dakar every year if I want to keep this sponsor!"

Manuel is already dreaming up his next stunt. Next year, he would like to start the rally with short hair and switch to a long-haired wig during the rest day, just to see the reaction at the bivouac. A hair-brained scheme, perhaps, but one that is undeniably on-brand for him. "For those two weeks, I have no idea what’s happening in the rest of the world. I disconnect from everything. I service my bike, pack my bag, go to sleep and wonder what the organisers have got in store for us the next day. People from all walks of life, all ages, come together here. There are millionaires and people with regular jobs. At the bivouac, we're all the same. The race brings out a magical humanity."