Damp conditions affect Crosbie at Dakar Rally
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday January 13, 2017 12:01
He sits third in the African rankings after South Africans Giniel de Villiers and Conrad Rautenbach who lie in sixth and ninth positions respectively in the overall ratings. Crosbie, who had reached the highest stage finish at 27th spot, has slipped down to overall 41st due to the harsh weather conditions in the area.
Crosbie started the race brightly on the first day, navigating the technical section of 35km that saw him dodging spectators and hidden dangers.
He managed to finish the first 745 km in position 62. On day two the rider enjoyed the terrain that is similar to the one in Botswana. He described the round as fast and had a lot of fine sand, which had an impact on his visibility. “It was pretty scary stuff, but I’m looking at the bigger picture and making sure to keep the finish in mind,” he said on his first post on his Facebook page.
In stage three and four, the 26-year-old capitalised on the mistakes made by the front-runners who lost their navigation. The riders faced sand dunes that caused injuries and bike problems. Crosbie finished the stage four in position 37. In the fourth round, reigning champion, Toby Price left the race due to an injury. The Australian had to be airlifted to the hospital after sustaining a fractured thighbone on his left leg. With stage six of the competition cancelled, the Serowe-born Crosbie had a two day rest before reaching his highest stage finish at 27th position on day seven which was a combination of stage six and seven. However, he slid back on the rankings in stage eight and nine as he rode in unfamiliar rainy conditions.
“I would say 100% the weather conditions had an effect on that (his slip). This year’s Dakar Rally has been a struggle for both competitors and the organisers. Two stages were cancelled and that is unheard of. Just by seeing chaos that has unfolded with floods and routes being washed away, I would say this has had an impact on all competitors,” Crosbie’s public relations and media assistant, Heinie van Niekerk told Mmegi Sport yesterday.
He however said the rider’s mental strength will help him pull through. Crosbie’s campaign manager, David Mashonja echoed van Niekerk’s sentiments as he said the rider’s main strength has been navigation.
“I can say that Crosbie is the best navigator in the country. The Dakar is not all about speed. It takes a good navigator to stay in the race. He has previously shown his skill in the rallies he participated in. Endurance is another strong point as they ride very long distances.
He had good training as he rode to and from Serowe, combining that with the training he did in Khawa. It gives him an urge over a lot of riders,” he said. Despite Crosbie’s sterling performances, his campaign team says if the rider manages to finish the race that would be considered a success. The race ends tomorrow.