Texto: Jesús Mesa del Castillo
Fotos: Jota Alemán
Traducción: Elvira Avilés
Amanece un día espléndido en el campamento. Los equipos han podido descansar y recuperar energías tras el que quizás haya sido el inicio de raid más intenso de las cinco ediciones. Recuperada la normalidad y el itinerario previsto, hoy toca viajar al sur para la ansiada cita con el calor y la arena. Todos los equipos, excepto dos que toman ruta alternativa para hacer reparaciones, están listos para la salida programada a las 9.30 de la mañana.
La etapa dos de Santana Trophy se caracteriza por la variedad de terrenos por los que pasarán los participantes. Tras un corto enlace por carretera para abastecimiento de combustible y víveres los equipos se adentran en una pista rápida que poco a poco va empeorando hasta convertirse en un puerto de montaña pedregoso y muy lento. Muchos de los navegantes se han visto obligados a echar pie a tierra para guiar a sus pilotos por este pedregal de curvas cerradas, escalones y pendientes pronunciadas. Los mismos santaneros se sorprenden del comportamiento de sus humildes pero recias máquinas de escalar, que con escasos 60 caballos de potencia superan metro a metro las complicaciones de un tramo que más bien parece una cantera.
Tras este aperitivo los equipos recorren una pista plagada de oueds que por las recientes lluvias se presentan húmedos y profundos y obligan a estudiar la forma de superarlos antes de volver al asfalto que los conduce, rumbo al sur, a los primeros ríos de arena y pistas de más de veinte kilómetros sin una sola curva. Grupos de participantes avanzan en paralelo con sus preciadas máquinas como una caballería a la carrera.
En este nuevo hábitat al que deberán adaptarse los Santanas y Series, sus ocupantes buscan con ahínco las balizas escondidas a las que no pueden acceder si no han seguido correctamente las indicaciones del road book. Muchos equipos ocupan buena parte del tiempo de la etapa en este tramo. Encontrar las balizas es clave para no penalizar en la clasificación del raid.
A veinte kilómetros de fin de trayecto el recorrido se vuelve otra vez pedregoso y muy lento. Tan cerca y tan lejos, el hotel Belere de Erfoud es la meta que tienen en mente los aventureros, ansiosos de comodidades tras tres días expuestos a la intemperie. Mañana vuelven a lo salvaje.
Tras este aperitivo los equipos recorren una pista plagada de oueds que por las recientes lluvias se presentan húmedos y profundos y obligan a estudiar la forma de superarlos antes de volver al asfalto que los conduce, rumbo al sur, a los primeros ríos de arena y pistas de más de veinte kilómetros sin una sola curva. Grupos de participantes avanzan en paralelo con sus preciadas máquinas como una caballería a la carrera.
En este nuevo hábitat al que deberán adaptarse los Santanas y Series, sus ocupantes buscan con ahínco las balizas escondidas a las que no pueden acceder si no han seguido correctamente las indicaciones del road book. Muchos equipos ocupan buena parte del tiempo de la etapa en este tramo. Encontrar las balizas es clave para no penalizar en la clasificación del raid.
A veinte kilómetros de fin de trayecto el recorrido se vuelve otra vez pedregoso y muy lento. Tan cerca y tan lejos, el hotel Belere de Erfoud es la meta que tienen en mente los aventureros, ansiosos de comodidades tras tres días expuestos a la intemperie. Mañana vuelven a lo salvaje.
STAGE 2. TALSINT-COL D`BELKASSEM-BOUBNIB-ERFOUD
Night gives way to a splendid day over the camp. The teams have finally been able to rest and recharge their energy after what has probably been the most intense start of Santana Trophy in all its five editions. With everything almost back to normal and once again on the right track, the teams begin to travel South in search of warmer temperatures and some sand. Everyone is ready to leave by 9.30, except for two vehicles which are taking the alternative route.
Stage 2 of Santana Trophy offers a variety of terrains through which the participants will pass. After a short road link which serves to fill up the tanks and to buy some provisions, the teams arrive at a fast track which worsens the further they drive, until it turns into a rocky, slow, and broken mountain port. Many participants have had to lead their pilots on foot through the stony land, filled with hairpin curves, steps and steep inclines. Even their owners are surprised by the response of the machines with their scant 60-horsepower, climbing meter by meter on land that looks more like a quarry than a real track.
After this small appetizer the teams follow a trail riddled with oueds, deep and damp due to the recent rains, which force the teams to study the passes carefully so as to reach the asphalt road that takes them South, to the first sand rivers and long, straight tracks. The vehicles, running parallel through the landscape, look like a cavalry on the move.
A new habitat for the Santana and Series to adapt to, as their drivers diligently search for the hidden markers which they won’t find unless they follow correctly the roadbook’s instructions. Many teams spend most of the stage on this stretch, since finding the markers is key to not losing any points in the classification.
With only 20 kilometres to go, the trail turns stony and slow again. So close and yet so far away, the Belere hotel in Erfoud is the final goal of the day. Everyone is anxious for comforts and conveniences after three days of being exposed to the elements. Tomorrow they will return to the wilderness.
Night gives way to a splendid day over the camp. The teams have finally been able to rest and recharge their energy after what has probably been the most intense start of Santana Trophy in all its five editions. With everything almost back to normal and once again on the right track, the teams begin to travel South in search of warmer temperatures and some sand. Everyone is ready to leave by 9.30, except for two vehicles which are taking the alternative route.
Stage 2 of Santana Trophy offers a variety of terrains through which the participants will pass. After a short road link which serves to fill up the tanks and to buy some provisions, the teams arrive at a fast track which worsens the further they drive, until it turns into a rocky, slow, and broken mountain port. Many participants have had to lead their pilots on foot through the stony land, filled with hairpin curves, steps and steep inclines. Even their owners are surprised by the response of the machines with their scant 60-horsepower, climbing meter by meter on land that looks more like a quarry than a real track.
After this small appetizer the teams follow a trail riddled with oueds, deep and damp due to the recent rains, which force the teams to study the passes carefully so as to reach the asphalt road that takes them South, to the first sand rivers and long, straight tracks. The vehicles, running parallel through the landscape, look like a cavalry on the move.
A new habitat for the Santana and Series to adapt to, as their drivers diligently search for the hidden markers which they won’t find unless they follow correctly the roadbook’s instructions. Many teams spend most of the stage on this stretch, since finding the markers is key to not losing any points in the classification.
With only 20 kilometres to go, the trail turns stony and slow again. So close and yet so far away, the Belere hotel in Erfoud is the final goal of the day. Everyone is anxious for comforts and conveniences after three days of being exposed to the elements. Tomorrow they will return to the wilderness.