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Robbie Allan: “I’m taking it at my own pace”
Copyright A.S.O. / Amaury Sport Organisation
At 66 years old, Robbie Allan is the oldest rider on this Dakar. The Scotsman was like a wide-eyed kid on discovering the Dakar: "I’ve never seen anything quite like it”, he declared on the evening of the bivouac at Er Rachidia. “It’s world’s last great challenge". This father of three did not have too much trouble getting approval from his family. "I’ve been married to him and have had to put up with him for 42 years, so I couldn’t do anything else but accept”, admits his wife. Nonetheless, his youngest daughter told him that it World be his “first and last Dakar”. The brother of Vic Allan, four-times motocross champion of Great Britain, Robbie is a sturdy guy who is used to major rallies on dirt tracks as well as roads. “Between us, we have 95 years’ experience of riding”.
Old Robbie came to Lisbon with his wife and brother two weeks before the start of the rally and like a true Scotsman, he fine-tuned his physical preparation with a dip in the sea on Christmas Day. It was a good way to get to grips with a race that he discussed with legendary countryman Colin McRae, the former world rally champion who drove for Nissan on the Dakar in 2004 and 2005. At any rate, the good advice of the most experienced of the two helped Robbie Allan to finish the third stage, the first in Africa this year, in 223rd position (out of 236), more than three hours behind the winner. “It was a bad day for me. Everything was fine in Portugal, but I had fuel problems and lost one and a half hours. I’m sick as a parrot, because I’ve tumbled down the general rankings”, insisted the ambitious rider. “Mind you, I’m not very happy with the attitude of some car drivers. Some of them aren’t very nice. I nearly got smashed right in the face by a big stone thrown up by a car that was overtaking me. I didn’t get the number, but I could recognise the vehicle. And if I find it…”
He now has the first Moroccan special stage behind him, but the main difficulties will arrive in Mauritania. “I’m taking it at my own pace, on my own. I’m managing to use the road-book but I haven’t a clue with the GPS”. The sixty-something continues to discover the Dakar as he pitches his tent for a short night’s sleep…