Defending champion Toby Price spearheads the KTM factory assault on the Dakar Rally as increased altitude sections stand to become a significant challenge on the world’s most punishing offroad competition.

After his historic breakthrough in January by becoming the first Australian to win Dakar, Price leads KTM’S 2017 push which also includes Briton Sam Sunderland, Austrian Mattias Walkner and Spain’s ace female competitor Laia Sanz.

KTM’s Dakar Sporting Director and a five-time winner Marc Coma said the route will feature up to half of the 12 day of competition at altitudes of more than 3000m above sea level.

The rally embraces Paraguay, the 29th participating country in the offroad epic, which will host the start of the event on January 2.

The extremes of Dakar will see conditions vary from close to freezing when exiting the Bolivian plateau and up to 50C in Argentina.
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“The route of the 2017 Dakar preserves rally-raid traditions, with a physical challenge that will push the competitors into the world of extreme endurance,” Coma said.

“Altitude will be a particular issue this year with six competition days at more than 3000m above sea level.”

Price has enjoyed a thorough preparation for this third attempt at Dakar. He finished third on debut in 2015 before climbing to that marvellous win in January.

“It’s going to be a difficult one, ranging from the navigation to the high altitude,” Price said.

“It’s also exciting to be starting in Paraguay and going into Argentina and Bolivia.”

French rider Antoine Meo is missing from KTM’S 2017 line-up after recently undergoing surgery on his left wrist.

Stages Rally Dakar 2017
Monday, January 2, Stage 1: Asunción – Resistencia (39km timed, 454km total)
Tuesday, January 3, Stage 2: Resistencia – San Miguel de Tucumán (275km timed, 803km total)
Wednesday, January 4, Stage 3: San Miguel de Tucumán – San Salvador de Jujuy (364km timed, 780km total)
Thursday, January 5, Stage 4: San Salvador de Jujuy – Tupiza (416km timed, 521km total)
Friday, January 6, Stage 5: Tupiza – Oruro (447km timed, 692km total)
Saturday, January 7, Stage 6: Oruro – La Paz (527km timed, 786km total)
Sunday January 8, Rest Day: La Paz
Monday, January 9, Marathon Stage 7: La Paz – Uyuni (322km timed, 622km total)
Tuesday, January 10, Marathon Stage 8:  Uyuni – Salta (492km timed, 892km total)
Wednesday, January 11, Stage 9:  Salta – Chilecito (406km timed, 977km total)
Thursday, January 12, Stage 10:  Chilecito – San Juan (449km timed, 751km total)
Friday, January 12, Stage 11: San Juan – Río Cuarto (288km timed, 754km total)
Saturday, January 13, Stage 12: Río Cuarto – Buenos Aires (64km timed, 786km total)