Five questions for Spanish star Sandra Gomez, the only woman taking on the incredible challenge of the Dakar 2025 on two wheels, aboard her Fantic XEF 450 Rally.
After winning the women’s category and the “Spirit of Dakar” award with Jane Daniels in the 2024 Dakar, this year, the Fantic Factory Rally Team has entrusted Sandra Gomez to join Tommaso Montanari and Jeremy Miroir. The 31-year-old Spaniard brings a wealth of experience in trial and enduro, including its most extreme form, Hard Enduro, where she became the first woman to finish the Red Bull Romaniacs Gold Class.
Now in her third Dakar and her first as part of the official Fantic squad, Gomez sits in an impressive 48th place overall and 34th in Rally 2 after Stage 6. Time for a quick catch-up!
How does it feel to be the only woman racing in the category?
“It's strange. On Friday morning, I watched a video of the first Dakar in Saudi Arabia, where there were seven women starting on motorbikes. I feel it’s a pity, I would have liked to race alongside other women too. Of course, the Dakar is tough and tests you physically and mentally, so it’s never easy. After all, we are all here for a dream, and sport unites everyone. Once you put on the helmet, there are no differences between men and women.”
You trained a lot. How important is it to arrive prepared?
“The Dakar is gruelling: even ten hours on the motorbike, with cold, dust... you have to arrive well trained. That’s even more true for a girl, but I love training. Even in Hard Enduro, it’s the same: you have to be super fit.”
The first week was exhausting.
“Absolutely, yes. Very long stages with stones, trees, and shrubs with long thorns capable of piercing even clothing. We are all scratched, especially on our legs.”
Three dunes-only stages await in this second week.
“In Spain, there are no dunes, so I can say the fast tracks and rocky terrain are much more familiar to me. That said, I really like the sand. It’s part of the Dakar adventure; it is the myth of the desert and the journey into the unknown. I grew up with the dream of the Dakar, I watched so many videos of the races in Africa. I’m so happy to be here.”
Finally, how are you finding life at the Fantic bivouac?
“The atmosphere is very welcoming, and I feel really comfortable here. Also, my feeling with the bike, which is still relatively new to me, keeps improving day by day. We get along well between Spaniards and Italians. They take great care of us, and it’s so nice to find a plate of pasta waiting when we return from a long stage.”
