The Dakar 2004 starts with stages in Morocco, well-known by riders and drivers, given the fact that they will repeat the same route while they enter Africa through Morocco. Those are stages with plenty of stones and some dunes. Expert driving and technique are very important on these kind of stages. Single-cylinders will have an advantage in these relatively slow specials.
In Mauritania, the Dakar reaches its decisive point; it is here where the real rally starts. Drivers and riders will be facing the first marathon stage and quite long specials, such as the Tan-Tan > Atar stage with 701 timed kilometres. The next stage, number eight, goes from Atar to Tidjikja, and although it is only 355 kilometres long, it is considered as a marathon stage and therefore riders and drivers will not be allowed to get assistance at the finish and will be on their own to get ready to face the next day: the ninth stage of the race with a 736 kilometres special.
The route in Mauritania has fast tracks and more open spaces, the mountains disappear and the scenery turns desert, with dune ergs. These dunes are not very high but the sand is very soft and riders get easily stuck so technique and ability will be a vital element for participants in this part of the route. Navigation will also be a decisive factor in Mauritania.
Stage nine, Tidjikja-Nema, with the tough Rocher des Eléphants, is a legendary stage and one of the most difficult parts of the Dakar. It is a mixture between soft grounds with a lot of sand on very hard ground, so it is very important to be extremely careful to avoid unpleasant surprises.
After stage nine, the rally will have overcome the first difficult stages and the natural selection will have made its job. Only riders and drivers with options to reach Dakar are expected to enter Mali, and therefore it is very possible to have a reduced rally caravan leaving Mauritania.
With the arrival in Mali, the scenery changes again. Dunes and sand give way to savannah, vegetation and animals… and to the dangers involved, such as frights and accidents with animals crossing the participants way quite often.
After stage eleven the Dakar will take a deserved rest in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, where riders and drivers will be able to recover.
The next day, still in Burkina Faso, the rally enters dusty roads with black sand called laterite, and afterwards turns back to Mali and Mauritania. Participants will find themselves back in Tidjikja in the marathon stage, meaning a second and definitive selection of the rally.
If there is something yet to be decided at the Dakar 2004, stage fifteen will be definitive, with a 590 kilometres stage and the fearsome camel grass on 200 of them, a mixture of grass covered by hard sand hindering riders and drivers from seeing hidden dangers. Riders are forced to ride standing meaning an additional physical wear.
Once the rally has entered Senegal, there will be two stages left, which will be a bit more than a triumphant ride for all those who reach Dakar.
ETAPA 1 : RÉGION D’AUVERGNE > NARBONNE
Jueves 1 Enero 2004
Prologo : 1,5 Km. – Enlace : 395 Km. – Total : 396,5 Km.
ETAPA 2 : NARBONNE > CASTELLÓN
Viernes 2 Enero 2004
Enlace : 6 Km. – Especial : 25 Km. – Enlace : 500 Km. – Total : 531 Km.
ETAPA 3 : CASTELLÓN > TANGER
Sábado 3 Enero 2004
Enlace : 2 Km. – Especial : 9 Km. – Enlace : 820 Km. – Total : 831 Km.
ETAPA 4 : TANGER > ER RACHIDIA
MARRUECOS
Domingo 4 Enero 2004
Enlace : 233 Km. – Especial : 75 Km. – Enlace : 444 Km. – Total : 752 Km.
ETAPA 5 : ER RACHIDIA > OUARZAZATE
MARRUECOS
Lunes 5 Enero 2004
Enlace : 56 Km. – Especial : 337 Km. – Enlace : 182 Km. – Total : 575 Km.
ETAPA 6 : OUARZAZATE > TAN-TAN
MARRUECOS
Martes 6 Enero 2004
Enlace : 176 Km. – Especial : 351 Km. – Enlace : 276 Km. – Total : 803 Km.
ETAPA 7 : TAN-TAN > ATAR
MARRUECOS-MAURITANIA
Miercoles 7 Enero 2004
Enlace : 345 Km. – Especial : 701 Km. – Enlace : 9 Km. – Total : 1.055 Km.
ETAPA 8 : ATAR > TIDJIKJA
MAURITANIA
Jueves 8 Enero 2004
Enlace : 34 Km. – Especial : 355 Km. – Total : 389 Km.
ETAPA 9 : TIDJIKJA > NÉMA
MAURITANIA
Viernes 9 Enero 2004
Enlace : 3 Km. – Especial : 736 Km. – Total : 739 Km.
ETAPA 10 : NÉMA > MOPTI
MAURITANIA-MALI
Sábado 10 Enero 2004
Enlace : 4 Km. – Especial : 345 Km. – Enlace : 561 Km. – Total : 910 Km.
ETAPA 11 : MOPTI > BOBO-DIOULASSO
MALI-BURKINA FASO
Domingo 11 Enero 2004
Enlace : 64 Km. – Especial : 458 Km. – Enlace : 229 Km. – Total : 751 Km.
Jornada de descanso : BOBO-DIOULASSO
BURKINA FASO
Lunes 12 Enero 2004
ETAPA 12 : BOBO-DIOULASSO > BAMAKO
BURKINA FASO-MALI
Martes 13 Enero 2004
Enlace : 88 Km. – Especial : 213 Km. – Enlace : 365 Km. – Total : 666 Km.
ETAPA 13 : BAMAKO > AYOÛN EL ATROÛS
MALI-MAURITANIA
Miércoles 14 Enero 2004
Enlace : 230 Km. – Especial : 478 Km. – Enlace : 25 Km. – Total : 733 Km.
ETAPA 14 : AYOÛN EL ATROÛS > TIDJIKJA
MALI-MAURITANIA
Jueves 15 Enero 2004
Especial : 510 Km. – Enlace : 3 Km. – Total : 513 Km.
ETAPA 15 : TIDJIKJA > NOUAKCHOTT
MALI-MAURITANIA
Viernes 16 Enero 2004
Enlace : 3 Km. – Especial : 590 Km. – Enlace : 37 Km. – Total : 630 Km.
ETAPA 16 : NOUAKCHOTT > DAKAR
MAURITANIA-SENEGAL
Sábado 17 Enero 2004
Enlace : 60 Km. – Especial : 210 Km. – Enlace : 395 Km. – Total : 665 Km.
ETAPA 17 : DAKAR > DAKAR
SENEGAL
Domingo 18 Enero 2004
Enlace : 45 Km. – Especial : 30 Km. – Enlace : 38 Km. – Total : 113 Km.
