January 9 th 2020 - 14:52 [GMT + 3]
On leaving Al Ula this morning, the riders, drivers and crews of the Dakar threw themselves into a genuine exercise of dexterity. Over 150 kilometres, the mainly sandy terrain forced them to be extremely watchful due to several rocky sections. They then reached the high plateaux of Jabal Sammar at an altitude of almost 1,500 metres, where in fact the hills to be tackled were often a series of tricky steps to be climbed. In any case, the city of Ha’il, renowned as one of the major settlements from the pre-Saudi era, is especially the national capital of the discipline for all-terrain aficionados. The Rally of Ha’il is the most prestigious and oldest event in the country, on which Saudi riders and drivers have been battling against each other for more than ten years, making it a necessary stopping point for the first Dakar in Saudi Arabia!
