The Team Repsol Dakar 2004 has taken its first steps at the traditional and symbolic pre-start grouping in Barcelona most of the Spanish participants, thus showing all fans the outfits with which they are going to take part in the race. After the podium ceremony, held under cold temperatures and light rain on the Plaza de Cataluña, they all began their journey to the French city of Clermont Ferrand, where administrative checks and scrutineering will be taking place from Monday to Wednesday before the official race start. The race will be starting on Thursday, January 1st. The caravan will head southwards, to Spain, where the first 9-km special stage will be held on Saturday, 3rd in Castellón. It will be a long journey overall in order to arrive in Tangier after more than eight hundred kilometres. Tangier will be the starting point of the ten thousand kilometres in Africa, which will be ending in Dakar on January 18th.
All members of the Team Repsol Dakar where present at the pre-start in Barcelona. The three riders Joan Roma, Isidre Esteve and Marc Coma, and the three truck drivers Jordi Juvanteny, José Luis Criado and Rafael Santiveri. Optimism was their common feature and their opinions reflected the will to start the race as soon as possible after so many months of preparation.
Romas opinion summarises the feeling of all Repsol drivers and riders: “Were all very well and todays event stands somehow for the starting point of the race. Its a beautiful day because all fans can see riders, drivers, bikes and cars. Were obviously looking forward and eager to start, hoping to finish the previous formalities quickly to get on the move and to the desert “.
