STAT OF THE DAY: 2
French entrants have triumphed in both categories, with Adrien Van Beveren prevailing in the FIM special and Mathieu Serradori emerging victorious from the FIA stage. It is not exactly a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence; it had last happened in 2024, when Sébastien Loeb and VBA were awarded medals at the bivouac in AlUla. However, the tricolore double in Bisha is a bit different, as the driver from the French Riviera is not yet a prolific stage hunter like the other two. This was his second win, adding to the one he claimed in a two-wheel-drive car back in 2020. This French success came as the Dakar pays tribute to Thierry Sabine, who created the event in 1979, a few years after launching the Enduro du Touquet, where VBA has taken the top spot three times: "I'm full of gratitude and admiration for him because he created the two events that have shaped my life as a rider", said the Frenchman at the finish.
Find out more about this visionary adventurer here.
