Pavey Dakar Diary: day 4

With not one but two Paveys in Dakar this year, as veteran campaigner Simon is joined by son Llewelyn, the pair still has a hard battle ahead of them to complete the arduous 9295km race across South America.

The day’s liaison was a body-testing ascent up to 4800m through the Andes mountains, across the Argentinian/Chilean border in freezing conditions before dropping back down into ‘the driest place on earth’, the Atacama Desert and the start of the 315kms special test in 35 degree heat. 

With a long maintenance plan for the night, the team back at home only managed to catch up with Simon – right on the start line as he heads off for day five!

Simon Pavey

• Start position: 92nd
• Finish Position: 69th

“We both had a really good day yesterday and it was a lot easier than the previous days. Basically we were just better physically after getting fed and watered properly and, even though the liaison was unbelievably long, it was a chance to rest a bit physically.”

“The stretch up the Andes across the border was easier than it has been in previous years, partly because it wasn’t anywhere near as cold. Llel had been really worried about the altitude because it has affected him in the past but he had no problems which was a massive relief for both of us. The only really problems he had was struggling a bit in the dunes towards the end. For all the riding he’s done he’s never really encountered big dunes on a big bike like this so it was literally a steep learning curve. But he loved it. You can’t fail to really.”

“For me the day went well because I basically remembered how to ride a bit. My energy levels were up again and the riding suited me a bit more.”

“Things were perfect right up until about 15kms from the end when I had a classic desert crash, a pearler right in front of some cameras! I hit a soft-pocket in third gear which stopped the front wheel dead and I did a classic head plant into the ground. There’s nothing you can do about it, it was just unlucky I found it in all that space. My neck was really sore and still was this morning but we’re all good and, I’d better go mate…”