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Competitors in Saudi Dakar Rally Highlight Next Week’s Event

Saudi Arabia hosted the Dakar Rally in 2020, the first time it was held in the Middle East. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia hosted the Dakar Rally in 2020, the first time it was held in the Middle East. (SPA)
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Competitors in Saudi Dakar Rally Highlight Next Week’s Event

Saudi Arabia hosted the Dakar Rally in 2020, the first time it was held in the Middle East. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia hosted the Dakar Rally in 2020, the first time it was held in the Middle East. (SPA)

A number of racers who are set to take part in Saudi Dakar rally 2021 held a press conference in Jeddah on Thursday to highlight the international event.

They expressed happiness to be in the Kingdom for the second edition of the rally.

The 2021 race kick off from Jeddah on January and end on January 15.

The racers lauded the natural topography of the Kingdom that would test their skill and experience.

Saudi Arabia’s Yazid Al-Rajhi, who came in fourth position in the 2020 event, vowed to overcome previous problems, hoping to win the race.

The Dakar started in 1977 as a race from Paris and across the Sahara desert to the Senegalese capital in West Africa and has long been regarded as the world’s toughest motorsport challenge.

It has been staged in South America since 2009 after leaving Africa for security reasons.

Saudi Arabia’s staging of the event in 2020 marked the first time it was held in the Middle East.

Veteran Spanish driver Carlos Sainz was the winner.

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Julián Álvarez Picking up the Scoring Pace with Atletico Madrid

Atletico's Julián Álvarez of Atletico celebrates scoring during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Sparta Prague and Atletico Madrid in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Michaela Rihova/CTK via AP)
Atletico's Julián Álvarez of Atletico celebrates scoring during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Sparta Prague and Atletico Madrid in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Michaela Rihova/CTK via AP)
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Julián Álvarez Picking up the Scoring Pace with Atletico Madrid

Atletico's Julián Álvarez of Atletico celebrates scoring during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Sparta Prague and Atletico Madrid in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Michaela Rihova/CTK via AP)
Atletico's Julián Álvarez of Atletico celebrates scoring during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Sparta Prague and Atletico Madrid in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Michaela Rihova/CTK via AP)

When the referee whistled for the free kick just outside the area, Atletico Madrid forward Julián Álvarez quickly picked up the ball and moved in position to take the shot.

“When I saw the free kick, I told Rodri (Rodrigo De Paul) that I felt confident with the shot,” Álvarez said. “And it was a great goal.”

Álvarez, Atletico's main signing in the offseason, has not been lacking confidence lately. The Argentina forward curled in the free kick shot in the 15th minute for the first of his two goals in the team’s 6-0 rout of Brest in the Champions League on Tuesday — the team’s biggest ever away win in European competitions.

“We'll keep rotating who takes the free kicks,” said Álvarez, who also found the net in the 59th.

It was Álvarez’s seventh goal in the last 10 matches, and third in his last three games across all competitions. The 24-year-old had a slow start to his first season with Atletico, scoring twice in 10 matches.

“It was a matter of time before we started connecting well with each other,” said Álvarez, who joined Atletico after two seasons at Manchester City. “We have to stay on this path to keep improving.”

Ángel Correa also scored two goals for Atletico, with Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann adding one each.

“We know that in this format of the competition we need to keep adding the three points and scoring goals,” Álvarez said. “It's important to get the points and the goals.”

Atletico was sitting in 13th place in the 36-team league standings.