Leg 2

IDEAL KM 70 to 90 km

ESTIMATED TIME 8:30

The time has come to confront the dunes: why wait?

Dreaded by some, eagerly anticipated by others, this day is a mythical rite of passage at the rally: the Erg Chebbi dunes. The apprehension mounts as the Gazelles approach the first checkpoint.

Shovels and straps at the ready, traction aids in easy reach: the erg (dune field) will offer no gifts.

For XNUMXWD/TRUCK and QUAD/SSV classes, there's no way around it: they have to commit, choose a route, and take responsibility for their objectives: X, Y, or Z.

Route Z stays around the base of the dunes. It is a more accessible option, but still demanding. Because sand is sand: unstable, treacherous, unpredictable.

Route Y is another story. The dunes are closer together, high and impressive. Navigation remains clear, but the terrain becomes more challenging: steeper slopes, more technical sections, narrower corridors. Every mistake can be costly.

And then there is Route X, the choice of the most daring teams. In the heart of the erg, the dunes are more like mountains of sand. Some can be climbed, others bypassed, but at the cost of a sometimes lengthy detour. The checkpoints seem close, almost within reach… but the sand slows everything down, absorbs energy, stretches time under a crushing heat.

X, Y, or Z… no matter the trajectory, Erg Chebbi makes the rules. The dunes are demanding, sometimes merciless, but terribly fascinating. That is part of what draws people here...

Dacia Crossover and e-Gazelle classes trade the vast dunes for equally technical terrain. Ravined slopes, sandy wadis, headlands that are difficult to follow… Landmarks become blurred, disappearing only to reappear elsewhere. Navigation becomes a true mental challenge.

Back at the bivouac, faces are etched with emotion, and stories flow freely. Victories, hardships, getting stuck in the sand, feats of skill… But one thing is certain: they all experienced an extraordinary day. One of those days that defines a rally.