Mirjam Pol is proud to say she is the only woman to have raced the Dakar in three continents: Africa, where she discovered the might and the beauty of the event in 2006 and 2007; South America, whose magical deserts hosted the event for 11 editions; and now Saudi Arabia, with sandy conditions the Dutch biker loves. She is about to have another badge of honour to boast about: the 2023 Dakar is Pol’s 10th participation, consolidating her status as a “Legend” of the event. Winner of the women bike ranking in 2009, she’s ready for more adventures in the desert where her consistency will once again be essential to reach the finish, as she did on eight occasions out of nine previous participations.
M.P.: “Ten Dakars make you a Legend! But most of all, I think it shows the journey you’ve been through. When I came for the first time, I thought it would be a one time thing. I was just 22 years old; I was a young female, without rally experience. No one expected me to finish. But I did it. I was unsure about coming back. I had done it, why go again? But as the event came closer, I had this funny feeling and I just wanted to go again. Then, during my second Dakar, I already knew I would return the following year. There are two options with Dakar: either you do it once and never again, or you get addicted. I got addicted. Now I’m happy to have ten Dakars because there aren’t many riders who get to do that much.
The biggest challenge of rally racing in general is not to make any mistake. The perfect Dakar is a boring Dakar from the start to the end. If you’re coming to the bivouac without a good story to tell, that’s a good sign: you didn’t crash, you didn’t get lost, you didn’t get into any big problems… But I don’t think it’s possible! You always come back with a story.”
