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 | SA-Dakar: Swedish Rally Princess Annie Seel finished hardest race ever.
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She came to defend her title in the Ladies´ Trophy, but she is glad to have finished her fifth participation in the toughest rally of the world: The Swedish "rally-princess" Annie Seel. It was the hardest race for her so far.
Everything went well in the first week of the Dakar 2011, but problems arrived after the rest day and she had to adapt her initial goals. To win after being sick became hard, and many mechanical problems appeared along the special stages, making this Dakar the hardest ever lived by the Swedish rider.
"This year has given me a trip to hell and back. I´ve never had these many problems before! I´m so happy to finally made it to the end," said Annie Seel exhausted. "It is unbelievable. Initially it was all about defending the title, but then competition turned out into a matter of survival, day by day, stage by stage. I brought the engine back to life several times, to finally push the bike by foot over the finish line! And I did it!"
Once again, Annie Seel shows off her courage and strength that make of her an outstanding woman. Her skills on the bike and her intelligence were the tools that helped her to get to the end. Overcoming all the hard moments she finishes her Dakar. Annie never gives up!
Annie´s Dakar 2011
Stage 1: A leaking gas tank caused problems and a late start. She lost many minutes and finished 105th of the stage.
Stage 2: This stage was all about overtaking slower riders, a 55th position after a hard day of work.
Stage 3: First great day on the stage and first stage win in Ladies Trophy, 52nd position on the stage.
Stage 4: She keeps improving her secure and safe riding, second victory among the female riders.51st at the finish line.
Stage 5: A true day of challenge, the Dakar is for real. Annie stretches a muscle in her back, but remains the winner on the stage. 51st at the end of the stage.
Stage 6: Last stage before the rest day. Annie finishes the race first of the ladies, for the fourth day in a row. She is 39th of the stage and 38th overall.
Stage 7: She takes off with a bad stomach ache and fever. She runs the whole stage, described as a trial section going up and down through canyons, with no clutch. She arrives to Antofagasta with fever shivers and a temperature of 37.9°C. Doctors take her under supervision and an antibiotic injection. She loses the advantage to Laia Sanz, her closest rival, and reaches the finish 90th.
Stage 8: Another hard day on the track. Weak and tired, she picks up speed and gets the 54th position of the day. She is still tired, but has no fever at night.
Stages 9: Working up the steam, and in a good riding spirit. The stomach ache continues. She finishes the stage 35th, and takes the 51st position overall. She is still behind her closest rival, Laia Sanz.
Stage 10: Electrical problems are the issues of the day. No electrical kick starter as a result of this problem. GPS battery goes dead and Annie follows tracks, getting stuck in a river mud. She finishes 51st.
Stage 11: A mechanical nightmare! Engine overheating, clutch blocked, everything! At the moment the bike stopped, the thought the Dakar was over, but she never gives up! She crossed the finish 70th, and 50th overall.
Stage 12: Another bad day, as the engine is failing again. She must ride slowly to avoid overheating it. She gets stuck in a muddy area and reaches the bivouac after midnight again.
Stage 13: Mechanics worked on engine for the 4 hours Annie was in the bivouac. She slept only two. More problems on the last day… the clutch wasn´t working! She manages to reach the finish line of a very troublesome Dakar. She is 83rd overall and 4th in the Ladies´ Trophy.
Check out Annie´s Dakar 2011 in her blog [ anniedakar.wordpress.com ].
2011/01/18 | 12:20 CET | ARTICLE: MR/SY/HESSEL/MAINDRU
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