2024-01-06 16:45:11
For the amateur biker from Haute-Vienne, participating in the legendary race created in the 80s by Thierry Sabine is a dream come true. Injured in the leg in 2022, he prepared a lot physically to not break down and stay focused.
At the end of the 1ʳᵉ stage, Sébastien Herbet ranks 108th in the general ranking in his category. The day before, during the prologue, a navigation error cost him a 30-minute penalty, relegating him to the bottom of the rankings. However, he keeps his spirits up. In a message left on his Facebook page, he declared: “A Dakar is long, so nothing bad.”
The Haut-Viennois is a former rugby player. He works as a salesperson in the food industry.
In 2022, he participated in the Berck-Sur-Mer sand race, in Pas-de-Calais. It was then that an accident knocked him out: “During the final, a driver hit me and tore my leg off. I had six fractures, a displaced tibial plateau and the disillusionment of not participating in the Dakar that year.”
Sébastien Herbet remained immobilized for 8 months.
This accident undoubtedly increased his desire to participate in the legendary race created in the 1980s by Thierry Sabine. For this, he trained with a sports coach. For the pilot, “You have to combine physicality, the ability to concentrate and stress management. There are nearly 8,000 km to cover over 14 stages. We pay cash for the slightest mistake.”
I try to get closer to the conditions he will be in by adding adequate exercises. Sometimes he’ll be strong on his hands. So, we add strength exercises on the arms.
Valentin Siry
Sports coach
To be able to participate in the race, Sébastien had to convince many sponsors. He now hopes to reach the end of the adventure: “It’s something very emotionally strong. In fact, building a project that is basically a dream is extraordinary.”
The arrival of the Dakar is scheduled for January 19.
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