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	Tourletters from Dakar

Finish in Dakar... An exhausted, but happy bunch of cyclists arrived healthy and safely in Dakar!!! After 10 weeks of cycling through wind, a few rain showers, and a lot of sun the peloton was welcomed the rhythm of African drums. The thirsty throats of the cyclists were quenched by Senegalese beer during the cocktail party at the finish line on the shores of Lac Rose. The endurance bicycle expedition was a race between two Swiss youngsters Eric Voutaz and David Imboden. They arrived most of the days together as first. Many times they were accompanied by some of the other riders, but it were always the Swiss racers which were in camp first. It were the mountains in the inland of Spain were Voutaz took the lead of an hour on Imboden. The Swiss bank employee could consolidate his lead on the African continent with the Atlas mountains, the Sahara and the flat, but hot, conditions in Mauritania and Senegal. Eric Voutaz was physically and mentally the strongest rider and was 52 minutes ahead of his countryman David Imboden. The Swiss bank employee didn't win a yellow jersey, but he was dressed up in a traditional Mauritanian costume. The podium was completed by Dirk Franckx from Belgium. Toos van Beijsterveldt from The Netherlands finished first in the female competition. Toos was dressed in a colourful Senegalese dress and she was flanked by Betty Otterstedt from Sweden at a second place and Maartje Knoop from the Netherlands a third place. The majority of the riders did not compete. They cycled together at their own pace and enjoyed the scenery and culture of the European and African continent. The riders ranged in the age from 25 to 65 years. Most of the them managed to cycle every single kilometer and proved that the tour is doable for a wide range of active people. +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ One day to go… by Bill Tomlin, Australia We’ve crossed the Western Sahara with its sand dunes, beautiful scenery and fantastic sunrises and sunsets. We’ve camped in wonderful places in the desert and avoided the landmines that are unfortunately still prevalent. We’ve watched the longest train in the world pass our campsite carrying iron ore to the factories of Mauritania . We’ve enjoyed Chris’ picnic lunches in the countryside and Ed and Astrid’s great dinners at each camp. We’ve rested in Nouakchott , where most of us endured the dust and dirt of the centre of the city but were enthralled by the activity and excitement of the fish market at the beach. We’ve watched a class of school children sing and perform their flag raising ceremony one morning. We’ve cycled through Diawling National Park and braved scorpions and wild wart hogs but were amazed by the flamingos and other wetland birds. We’ve waited for hours at the border crossing into Senegal at Diarma and enjoyed our first beers for two weeks on arrival at St Louis . We’ve spent a day wandering the streets of the old colonial capital of French Western Africa , meeting local people, negotiating cheaper prices for shirts and other souvenirs and enjoying the Senegalese ‘teranga’ – hospitality. We’ve cycled past fascinating villages, local cyclists, baobab trees, goats skinned and ready for sale at butchers’ huts. Now we’re at M’boro-sur-mer, camping at the beach, enjoying more of the La Gazelle beer of West Africa , enjoying swimming at the beach …. and with one more day to Dakar!

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